Conversations with Bianca Romero

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bianca Romero.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Looking back, the common thread throughout my career has always been growth. I began in sales and customer service, where I learned how to build relationships, understand what people need, and help businesses grow. From there, my path expanded into marketing, graphic design, hospitality, promotions, and large-scale event production. I even returned to school for event management and worked my way into major events and experiential marketing.

My journey was not a straight line, but every role gave me another piece of the skill set I use today. I learned how to tell a compelling story, create memorable experiences, bring people together, build partnerships, and turn creative ideas into measurable results.

When I became involved with the Barnesville-Lamar County Chamber of Commerce, I realized chamber leadership brought all of those experiences together. I first served as a volunteer and executive assistant, became interim President & CEO in December 2022, and officially stepped into the President & CEO role in April 2023.

Today, my work is about growing an entire community. I support small businesses, develop partnerships, create events, promote tourism, advocate for our members, and help tell the story of Barnesville and Lamar County. During my time with the Chamber, we have increased membership by more than 30 percent, significantly expanded sponsorship support, and grown our annual digital reach from approximately 252,000 views to more than 3 million.

What I love most is helping people recognize the potential that already exists here. Barnesville and Lamar County offer the kind of authentic small-town experience that is becoming increasingly difficult to find: a historic downtown, locally owned businesses, beautiful countryside, a thriving college community, and signature traditions such as Buggy Days that bring generations of people together.

Sometimes the greatest opportunities are found in places others have overlooked. My role is to help our businesses, residents, and visitors see what makes this community special and to build upon it in a way that creates lasting growth.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been rewarding, but it has not always been easy. I stepped into Chamber leadership during an organizational transition and quickly learned how much responsibility comes with leading a small, community-based organization.

A rural Chamber is often expected to accomplish the work of a much larger organization with a very small staff and limited resources. Every dollar, partnership, and hour must be used thoughtfully. I have had to become comfortable moving between strategic planning, budgeting, advocacy, staff management, member support, and event operations… sometimes all within the same day.

Community leadership is also very public. People care deeply about Barnesville and Lamar County, which means they naturally have different ideas about what progress should look like. Not every decision will please everyone, and even positive change can take time to earn support. I have learned how important it is to listen, communicate clearly, remain transparent, and stay focused on the organization’s mission.

Perhaps the greatest challenge has been learning that leadership is not simply about having a good idea. It is about building the relationships, trust, resources, and shared commitment required to make that idea successful. That process can be slow, but it has made me a more patient, resilient, and collaborative leader.

The experience has taught me to keep showing up, continue listening, and measure progress over time. When I look at how far the Chamber has come, I am reminded that meaningful growth is rarely easy… but it is absolutely worth the effort.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I lead an organization that brings businesses, nonprofits, civic organizations, educational institutions, and local leaders together from across Lamar County. Our role extends beyond traditional business networking. We support our community partners as they create memorable experiences for our residents and for the visitors who come to discover our community.

This work is especially meaningful at a time when many rural Chambers across the country are struggling or closing. I recently had the opportunity to speak at a conference about tourism in rural communities, and it reinforced how remarkable our work truly is. Chambers serving considerably larger populations in metro areas often operate with similar (or even fewer) resources and results. Our Chamber has remained financially responsible and sustainable, generally operating near break-even as Chambers often do because the revenue we generate is reinvested into our members, programs, events, marketing, and community.

I specialize in finding creative ways to make a small organization’s impact much larger than its size. Our social media following is more than double that of some Chambers serving much larger metro communities, and our content reaches millions of people throughout the region. That visibility allows us to continually promote Barnesville and Lamar County, not only when we are hosting a major festival, but throughout the entire year.

I am proud that our Chamber has become a trusted community connector and a strong voice for rural tourism. Most of all, I am proud that my efforts are being recognized both within our community and beyond it. That recognition demonstrates that a small rural Chamber can create meaningful experiences, attract regional attention, support its partners, and compete with organizations serving much larger markets.

What are your plans for the future?
The two biggest initiatives I am looking forward to are the launch of our Government Affairs Committee and the introduction of BEACON, our new business and community magazine. Both are part of the Chamber’s newly adopted 2026–2029 strategic plan and represent an exciting expansion of how we serve Barnesville and Lamar County.

The Government Affairs Committee will give our business community a stronger, more organized voice. It will bring together business owners, community stakeholders, and local leaders to discuss issues affecting economic growth, strengthen communication with elected officials, and develop thoughtful solutions for the future. My goal is for the Chamber to help create productive conversations and ensure that the needs of our businesses are represented as decisions are made.

BEACON will become the Chamber’s official business and community publication. It will allow us to highlight local businesses, share community success stories, promote tourism, explain important initiatives, and showcase the people and organizations moving Barnesville and Lamar County forward. It will also help us reach residents, visitors, leaders, and potential investors throughout the region.

Together, these initiatives will strengthen the Chamber’s role as both the Voice of Business and a leading storyteller for our community. I am excited to give our businesses a greater voice while introducing more people to everything Barnesville and Lamar County have to offer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.barnesville.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barnesville_lamar_cc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarnesvilleChamber
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/barnesville-lamar-chamber-of-commerce
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BarnesvilleLamarCoC
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@buggytownlife