CHAMBER PRESIDENT MAKALIA ATKINS TALKS OPPORTUNITY AT ANNUAL BANQUET

2026 Chamber Board President and Land of Lincoln Credit Union manager, Makalia Atkins, addressed the 200-plus attendees of the Celebrate Progress - Chamber Annual Banquet, speaking out her own personal journey as a business professional in Centralia and recognizing the opportunities available in the community.

“I am so honored to serve as the 2026 president of the Greater Centralia Chamber of Commerce. I was telling Marcus that this is somewhat of a full circle moment for me. Some of you may know that I worked for Dairy Queen when I was younger for Tom Caston. And while I worked there, he sat on many boards, and he was also a chamber president. And I remember glancing at the president plaque in his office and seeing names of previous presidents. Many names I had heard over the years, but none of them were names that I thought mine would be next to one day.

For many young people in Centralia the vision of the future is not very clear. For me, it was because I didn’t really want Centralia to be in the future. I wasn’t noticing the opportunities for advancement here. But one day I did recognize my opportunity in Centralia and seizing that opportunity led me to my employment with Land of Lincoln Credit Union and the many professional relationships I’ve built since then.

So many people in this room have positively influenced me in ways they may not even know. And whether you realize it or not, we are crossing paths with the youth who are looking to us for direction to find the opportunities that we have found in this community and I pray that my time as president and the rest of my time here in Centralia have the same positive impact on those who came after me as those who came before had on me.”

Atkins went on to acknowledge outgoing chamber board members Jesus Santiago and Wes Monken.

Atkins closed with a message from Wes Monken, 2025 board president, "The board of directors and chamber team are proud of the relationships built with the City of Centralia. Thanks to the board working with Mayor Kuder, Rob Jackson, and Galen Mahle, we have improved strategies and communications within our community. Thank you to board members and the current city administration for expanding our partnership."