Being an Administrative Assistant for the Portage Chamber of Commerce taught Portage Life in the Spotlight Mary Linoski about the way her city works and how her peers can influence change in their own environments. It was a job she took to pass the time, before she knew was a truly perfect fit she was.
More than three decades ago, Mary attended Muskegon Business College for an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration. She wanted to start working right out of high school but, at 17, she was too young to be legally employed. Furthering her education did more for Mary’s future than depending on her birthday ever would have.
It made her resume stand out when she pursued a job at a local steel mill.
Everybody wanted in the mills. It was a good job: a decent salary, benefits, and reliable work. Mary spent two years at US Steel before being hired on at Bethlehem Steel.
She worked in that office for 32 years. It gave her the office skills she would need to work for the Chamber. It, and her schooling, laid a foundation for the many changes in technique and technology that she would adapt to over the years. Mary learned a great deal that still applies to her life today.
In 2013 she found her calling at the Portage Chamber of Commerce.
“I love working for the Chamber,” Mary says. “I’ve never experienced anything like it before. I think what makes it unique is that we all get along. We’re small but I think that makes us more of a family than other chambers might be.”
The office women Mary works with help her learn the nuances of modern technology. They each add something to the team and work on problems together.
The personality of the Chamber as a whole reflects Mary’s. As a teenager she proved to be a hard worker and business-minded, traits that the Chamber models for the community. Both she and her employer are determined to build a better Portage through dedication and humanitarianism.
Fundraisers like annual golf outings and dinners with silent auctions are part of the Chamber’s identity. Mary works behind the scenes to find event sponsors among the Chamber members.
“The Chamber is a part of the community and does things for the community. So it’s good to be there and be involved. [The events] are a way to give back to the community that supports you. It’s the people that are making us successful.”
Most of Mary’s work is clerical but she loves being a part of it all. The Chamber’s role is to provide businesses with marketing, advertising, and networking, and in turn the members supply benefits and financial support to other members and the organization itself. Mary is the middle man that keeps the cycle flowing and the Chamber alive.
She also represents the Chamber at weekly Rotary Club meetings. Her boss asked her to join despite Mary’s apprehension about fitting in. It has become an important part of her schedule.
“I do enjoy giving,” Mary says, “And that’s what they are all about. I feel very blessed with what I have and don’t think it’s mine to keep. Not everyone has the things that I have, or the opportunity to get it.”
The Rotary and the Chamber are prolific with their fundraisers. By keeping diverse they are able to touch the lives of more people and network those they meet with others who can do more.
Through her church, Mary has another avenue for charities. She takes part in the Backpack Program that was once called "Feed My Lambs." Students in Portage schools who qualify for free lunches receive a backpack full of food every Friday, to supplement their pantries over the weekend.
“The kids are our community. They’re our upcoming adults. When I can help them, I do. It’s our responsibility, living in our community, to do what we can to help those kids and their families,” explained Linoski.
Mary’s passion for charity is rivaled only by her dedication to the city she lives in. Portage owes its recent growth to people like her, who are raising funds and improving schools. Our businesses are thriving because they have learned the art of leaving no one behind.
“I absolutely love Porter County. I’ve lived here my whole life. I’ve never moved, so that says something about it. Portage in itself is growing.”
Mary’s town has grown a lot since she was a teenager. So has she. She has made many choices that have changed her career, her family, and her community for the better.