People

Questioning The Locals: David Minor

free-wheelin’ discussions with local folks

V1 Staff, photos by Andrea Paulseth |

IN THE MINOR LEAGUE. David Minor has been in the Chamber business for 31 years and recently won the Mid-America Chamber Executives (MACE) award.
IN THE MINOR LEAGUE. David Minor has been in the Chamber business for 31 years and recently won the Mid-America Chamber Executives (MACE) award.

David Minor has been involved in the Chamber a long time. Not the Chamber of Secrets, but the Chamber of Commerce. He has spent 31 years in the business of business, serving as CEO of two Chambers for 29 of those years – first in Superior, and for the past five years in Eau Claire. When he isn’t working with local businesses, he and his wife, Jackie, are out biking and hiking and finding cozy places to get a bite to eat. As David puts it, he needs all the energy he can to keep up with his wife.


Any night of the summer, my wife and I can ride our bikes downtown, phoenix park, or river prairie and listen to wonderful music.

David Minor

president/ceo of the eau claire area chamber of commerce

What is the best part of being the President of the Chamber of Commerce?

Because of that title, “President” we’re invited to be at a lot of conference room tables – lunches – dinners to join the conversation to help chart the course for the community. Along with a variety of issues, projects, and events that we get to be a part of and have some level of impact on.

What place in town considers you a “regular”?

Cabin Coffee. The staff, tea, and food are outstanding and I enjoy the comfortable surroundings to get some work done. It is my “remote” location when I need to get out of the office.

What are you passionate about? 

There are two things that stand out:

1) The Chamber/Industry. I’m going on 30+ years in this industry and it has truly been amazing.

2) Cooking BBQ for family and friends. As my grandmother and mother would say about cooking – the more the merrier.

Death bed, one meal from a local restaurant, what would it be?

There are a couple of choices, but if I had to choose one, it would be Johnny’s Italian Steak House. I’d start it off with an order of Calamari, followed by a Caesar Salad –and even though I’m Italian – I’d go next for one of the signature steaks and end it off with Crème Brulee for dessert and a glass of 30-year-old Macallans Scotch. 

What book, TV show, or movie would you recommend to the members of the City Council? 

Casablanca, with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Everyone should see this movie at least once.

David’s Shoutouts

Phoenix Park. “Between all the music and the Farmers Market what’s not to love?

Bike Trails. “We love all the different bike trails in and around Eau Claire. You have so many options and scenery to choose from.”

Downtown Eau Claire. “The overall transformation over the past 15+ years is absolutely wonderful.  With all of the activities and the vibrancies, it truly makes being downtown just wonderful.”