Enumclaw native Kelvin Schipper has been named executive director of the local Chamber of Commerce.

There were more than 30 candidates for the post, according to Tim Pierick, president of the chamber’s board of directors. The board sent written questions to a short list of seven and received replies from five. From there, the board whittled the list until Schipper emerged as the No. 1 choice.

Pierick said the board liked his dedication to the community, organizational skills and financial background.

Schipper was a familiar face around the chamber office. He had been a member of the board of directors for nearly a year and had volunteered for chamber events for several years. He also has been involved with the Enumclaw Rotary Club for more than two years.

A lifelong resident of Enumclaw, he began working at the local Washington Mutual branch as a high school intern. During the past eight years he advanced to the assistant manager’s post of what is now Chase Bank, before departing Chase in July. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with concentration in sales and marketing from DeVry University in Federal Way. His lists his hobbies and interests as Christmas, history, politics, police scanners, useless facts, running and snowboarding.

“I’ve always enjoyed being part of the community,” Schipper said, when asked why he sought the chamber post. “It was something I really wanted to do.”

Schipper is a one-man staff at the chamber office, as there are no immediate plans to hire an assistant. For years, there has been a paid, part-time person to help in the office.

Schipper said the immediate goal is to develop a list of events for 2012. An ongoing effort will be to support current members and increase membership.

The chamber office had been operating short-handed for three months. Former executive director Tracey McCallum resigned after 17 months on the job, leaving in mid-September, and assistant Teresa Luedeke departed soon after.