Meet Shonna

Meet one of our new staffers – your membership services rep Shonna Lumsden – and find out who she is and what she brings to MVCC!

“The Crescenta Valley has been my home since 1977. I attended elementary, middle and high school here and participated in Girl Scouts, played soccer, went to YMCA summer camp and was raised in the Presbyterian Church. There are wonderful memories of playing at Two Strike Park and sliding down the hills on my piece of cardboard, hiking in our beautiful mountains and riding my bike down to Montrose. I would save my allowance to spend the day in Montrose. Whether it was acquiring new stickers for my collection book from Paper Rabbit, shopping for a new outfit or lunching with friends at Rocky Cola, I would spend hours here.

“My ‘village’ was this small town in the foothills. I use the reference of village because, aside from immediate family, my support consisted of neighbors, friends from church, coaches and shop owners who knew me and my family by name. All are an important part of who I am today.

“Living in a community where we know our neighbors, shop owners, teachers and coaches made me feel safe and looked after. Because our community and the people in it gave so much, my dad, Jim Lumsden, always stressed the importance of buying local here in the footballs. Even if it meant spending a few dollars more, it was important for him to support our community so that it would continue thrive and grow.

“Fast forward to my adult life, I found myself back in the area after a few years of living out of state. I needed and wanted the same sense of community and village for my own children. My daughter, Kailey, graduated from CVHS and is now completing her MBA. My son, William, now attends Rosemont. Both have played or currently play sports in the community, hang out at the same YMCA, attend youth group and spend hours in Montrose with friends and family. They, too, experience the shop attendant who knows them by name and the feeling of a close-knit community.

“These qualities are what drew me to the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce. I began as a volunteer initially and recently accepted the opportunity to work part time with the chamber. My role is to manage membership services. Having history with the community and knowing the value that every business brings is the driving force behind the work I do. It is not solely about getting memberships but about engaging with our members and supporting each one after they sign up.

“My goals include working individually with each member and meeting their needs of support from the chamber. This can be anything from advertising and events to spreading their good news. I also look forward to hosting collaborative events that bring our businesses together in support of one another and inviting our community and outsiders to participate in this ‘village.’ Encouraging our community to support their neighborhood businesses is a main goal. Having been raised here and then returning to raise another generation, I have seen firsthand the importance and value of my father’s mission to support local. I look forward to working with the people of Montrose and hope that you will stop by to say hello!”

  Shonna Lumsden