CHAMBER STAFF
We are here to serve you. To speak to a member of the Chamber staff, please call 509.525.0850.
Arlene Alen serves as President and CEO of the Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce, where she leads a regional, community-facing organization focused on strengthening business, workforce, economic opportunity and community vitality throughout the Valley.
Her career spans Chamber and association leadership, economic development, nonprofit governance, public-sector coordination, tourism, workforce development and community systems building. She has led organizations and initiatives in Washington and Arizona, working across business, government, education and nonprofit sectors to turn complex community priorities into practical programs, partnerships and long-term strategies.
Since joining the Walla Walla Valley Chamber in 2023, Arlene has expanded the Chamber’s role as a regional convener and economic-development partner. Her work includes business advocacy and education, entrepreneurship and workforce initiatives, cross-jurisdictional collaboration, and the development of Film WWV—The Production Alliance, an emerging rural production-economy program designed to diversify the Valley’s economy while creating opportunities for local businesses, students and working professionals.
Arlene also contributes to numerous local, regional and statewide advisory bodies addressing economic development, planning, transportation, workforce, tourism, climate and public policy. Her background includes service as an elected municipal official, planning commissioner, economic-development leader, nonprofit executive, board-development instructor, SCORE advisor and consultant.
Known as a visionary who implements, Arlene’s work centers on building credible partnerships and sustainable systems that help communities move from conversation to action.
Silver Creek Bentley, CGC
Chief Greeting Officer
Silver Creek Bentley, known throughout the Chamber simply as Bentley, serves as the Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Chief Greeting Officer.
Bentley is a MAD dog—a Mini AussieDoodle—who has been reporting for duty at the Chamber for just over a year. He recently celebrated his second birthday and has already developed a loyal following. Members, visitors and community friends have been known to stop by the Chamber specifically to see him, although Bentley remains convinced that every visit is official Chamber business.
An accomplished young professional, Bentley has earned his AKC STAR Puppy, AKC Canine Good Citizen and AKC Trick Dog titles. He is currently working toward another Trick Dog title while training to become a fabulous agility dog.
Bentley also hopes to begin therapy-dog training in early 2027. His future career goals include listening while children read to him at the library and spending time with veterans who would enjoy sharing their stories with a patient and attentive companion.
His compensation requirements remain modest: plenty of pets, frequent tummy rubs and the occasional treat. In return, Bentley provides enthusiastic greetings, improved staff morale and an exceptional ability to make nearly everyone who enters the Chamber feel welcome.
Interns
Bethel is an Economics and Politics student at Whitman College. She is a recipient of the United World College Davis Scholarship and the Whitman International Student Scholarship. Bethel's academic foundation spans microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, and political economy.
Academically and professionally, Bethel bridges research and finance. She conducted independent undergraduate research in political economy and contributed to a Whitman course syllabus. She also completed the Whitman Financial Accelerator, helping to produce an investment memo for Trilogy Search Partners, and helped manage a $2 million student portfolio as a Board Member of the Whitman Investment Company.
Beyond research and finance, Bethel has demonstrated a commitment to community building and student advocacy. She has served as Vice President of the Economics Club. She has also organized campus events through the Intercultural Center, built internship resources for fellow students as part of the Career Community Engagement Center, and works as an academic coach at the academic resource center.
My name is Luke Winkes, I’m a current Film and Media Studies major at Whitman College in Walla Walla. Although it is fair to say that my love for film comes from exactly that, an admiration for the art form, I believe that it also stems from a desire to understand different perspectives and articulate our own. I was born and raised in Mount Vernon, Washington, a small town with a large Spanish-speaking community. Due to this, I began learning Spanish relatively young, and am now considering completing the Hispanic Studies minor alongside film. My experience in actual Spanish-speaking countries comes largely from the nine months I lived in Costa Rica, where I was able to fully hone this skill by receiving education at a local school and interacting within the community. Outside of an academic setting, most of my work experience comes from farmer’s markets and farms themselves. For several years, I worked as a vendor for a berry farm down the road from my home, selling their products at markets in the greater Seattle area. Through this job, I gained crucial customer service skills and my communication abilities were strengthened as a result, affording me the opportunity to connect with people from a diverse range of backgrounds.
I'm Sayora Idibekova, a senior Economics major at Whitman College, originally from Khorog, Tajikistan, a picturesque mountainous country in Central Asia.
After high school, I was fortunate to attend the United World College (UWC) of East Africa in Tanzania, where studying in an international environment opened my eyes to new ideas and perspectives that inspired me to keep pursuing education abroad. That's what brought me to Whitman College, During my time at Whitman, I've completed two study abroad programs, one in Australia and one through Semester at Sea, both of which deepened my understanding of global economies and communities.
I'm passionate about economic development, community engagement and using data-driven insights to approach and solve real social and economic challenges I've also had the privilege of interning with the Central Asia Institute and the Central Office of Poverty Elimination in Tajikistan, supporting financial operations, community development initiatives, and poverty alleviation programs, work that feels deeply personal and meaningful to me.
I'm especially drawn to economic development, public policy, and community-focused initiatives. I love finding ways to bring my analytical skills and creativity together to make a tangible difference.