BY JILLIAN QUINLAN
Clarkston News Intern

Life was very different for Penny Shanks when she first moved to Clarkston 10 years ago.
At the time she was a stay-at-home mother of two balancing her parental duties with volunteer work. Today her boys, Jonathon and Jim, are grown and off to college while she has a busy career as the executive director of the Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce.
The journey to Clarkston started when Shanks? husband, Kurt, was transferred from Flint to Warren for his job with General Motors. At the time they were living in Rochester and were looking to relocate to an area with closer freeway access.
‘We looked in a variety of communities and really liked Clarkston,? Shanks said. ‘We were able to get the house we wanted and have been there and liked it ever since.?
When the Shanks first arrived in Clarkston their children were in middle school. Penny decided to get involved with numerous school activities. She became a member of the Parent Teacher Association, a lobbyist for public education and involved in many other volunteer organizations.
All the volunteer work led to a job offer as a part time administrative assistant with the Chamber.
‘My kids were in middle school and that is when I planned on getting a job. Well, not really because I wasn’t actually looking,? Shanks said.
Shanks decided to take the job. At the time the Chamber had only 180 members and now it has 500. As the Chamber has grown, so has Shanks? career. The former administrative assistant has been the executive director for the last five years.
Shanks really enjoys her job and is proud of the business owners in Clarkston.
‘I want everyone to understand how committed our small business owners are. It’s very rewarding to make friends with them. They work so hard at their businesses and give so much to the community. Small businesses really are your neighbors.?
Recently, Shanks has been busy planning the Chamber’s summer events. Among them is the Concerts in the Park series which began last Friday and returns for the next five weeks. The concerts take place every Friday at Depot Park from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Shanks is also extremely excited about the Chamber golf outing which is slated for June 26.
‘This is a record setting year with tremendous support from the community and businesses,? Shanks said. ‘Our Chamber is small business, not corporate. We have almost 500 members and there is a connection and sense of pride. We are seeing that come true through the golf classic.?
Shanks isn’t the only one in her family working hard for the community. Her husband Kurt Shanks is the outgoing president of the Clarkston Community School Board. He was also on the school board in Rochester when the family lived there. He originally was not planning on continuing to serve in Clarkston but after stepping forward to chair a bond issue he realized his passion for community service.
‘Both Kurt and I are very committed and value community service. We learned that from our parents,? Shanks said.
Penny is very happy with the schools in Clarkston.
‘Both my boys graduated from Clarkston High School extremely skilled in math and science,? Shanks said.
Jonathon, 20, is a physics major at Michigan State University and is currently involved in an undergraduate research program at Florida State University. While his mother is proud, the long distance forced her to miss his birthday for the first time.
Younger son Jim, 18, just graduated from CHS and is off to Michigan State in the fall.
‘Clarkston High School did a great job of offering challenging courses with great role models,? Shanks said.
Penny has no plans to leave Clarkston or the Chamber anytime soon. She loves her job which can be stressful at times but always a lot of fun. As for the area, it is exactly what Penny and her family are looking for.
‘I really like that you have the up north feeling, but you are also close and have access to everything Metro Detroit has to offer. It’s very personal and very connected,? Shanks said.