Name
Patricia Muellen
Company/Organization
Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce
What Does Your Company/Organization Do?
Chamber of Commerce is a member driven organization that provides Networking , Advocacy, Visibility and Benefits for it’s members. A hub source for businesses.
Age
35
Accomplishments
I’m the founder of Cornerstone Chamber Young Professionals 3 years strong now. The founder of Networking Group 8 years later. I staffed the 2012 Senior PGA Championship by starting my own company Great Lakes Staffing in 2012 to place all available positions (over 100) with local people from 49022. Previously served on boards: 100 Woman Strong, Child and Family Services of SWMI. Currently serving as Chair of the Coming Home Coming Together Community concert committee, a free community concert in the City of Benton Harbor. Also on the Junior Achievement Board SWMI of Directors and Marketing Committee. I’m on the Cornerstone Alliance Women’s Business Center Board of Advisory and the Michigan’s Great Southwest Strategic Leadership Council as well as Tax Payer Value Group. I’m a District 6 Delegate representing Benton Harbor, MI and on the County Executive Committee for my party, I started a PAC and have been involved in many campaigns for candidates and against the Benton Harbor Income Tax. A Leadership Accelerator Alumni class of 2016-2017. Two time Disney Institute Alumni (Three times after March 22nd) and proud to say a Dale Carnegie graduate in 2017. I’m also the director of the Chamber of Commerce where we’ve accomplished more than I can list, I love my role.
What else do you hope to accomplish by the age of 40?
World domination? I don’t know. I just keep doing the very thing that drives me, helping people makes me happy. Perhaps one day I’ll be the Chamber President, it would be neat to be the youngest female in that role. Or maybe I’ll be on to my next chapter by then but I hope to still be at the Chamber. Here I can impact the entire community!
Education
Associates General Studies- nothing exciting — it was forever ago. Glen Oaks Community College, Centreville, MI
Residence
Benton Harbor, MI
Where were you born?
New York
What was your first job?
Working for my parents at the TV-VCR Repair shop, then my first REAL job was for Applebees as a server, host, bartender, cook, then a key manager.
Best advice you ever got?
Saying less is more. Always be genuine and stay consistent no matter what.
Who inspires you most?
I never got involved where I lived until moving to SWMI. This community inspires me!
That one thing about you we’d be most surprised to learn.
As extroverted as everyone thinks I am, I was a home school student with no social life that only studied so I graduated high school 2 years early. When I’m not in working mode I can be an introvert.
What do you love to do in your downtime?
Nothing, of course! What else would I do? Doing nothing is my favorite thing to do, hands down. We work on our house and on occasion I like to target practice.
What book are you reading now?
How to Stop Worrying & Start Living, Dale Carnegie
Volunteer activity you love the most.
Volunteering with Junior Achievement teaching in the classroom
What motivates you to give back to your community?
Seeing passionate people come together is a beautiful thing. I had an interesting childhood, it wasn’t great, if I could help make a difference for someone else by leading by that example then I’m all for it.
What Superpower would you most love to have?
Healing
What does this honor most mean to you?
I’m always on the other end of awards recognizing others, so I was a bit taken aback and completely honored to be chosen as a 40 under 40. Typing out my accomplishments put it into perspective that I’ve gotten a lot done over the years, and I’m not finished — actually I think I’m just getting started! To me serving your community, making an impact where you can, and helping others is what life is all about so in a way it’s an award for doing what I feel is necessary for all of us and just being me. That’s actually pretty cool. I’m so proud of the Young Professionals Network and what they’ve accomplished in the past few years, I’m proud to represent them as their leader but even more now humbled that I was the one they felt was deserving today.
