Each year, the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce recognizes seven individuals under 40 in Whatcom County for their incredible initiative and stewardship in their communities. Finalist Lorin Lindell has a deep love for Bellingham and works in creative ways to help support the community while simultaneously forging meaningful, lasting connections with Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism.
“I’ve lived in Bellingham for the past seven years and went to school at Western Washington University,” says Lindell. “About a year before graduating, I took a part-time job as the Visitor Service Coordinator with Visit Bellingham. I worked downtown helping to connect visitors and locals with local hotspots and attractions and right before graduating, in 2019, was offered a full-time job with Visit Bellingham’s marketing department as the media and advertising coordinator. Today I am the social media and public relations specialist.”
Lindell has experienced Bellingham from an array of unique perspectives throughout her journey becoming a local. “I’ve gone from being a student at the university, to discovering Bellingham for the first time as a local, to now being an active community member. And over the past seven years, I’ve not only watched the city grow, but I’ve also watched myself grow,” Lindell says. “I’ve realized this is a community that loves and supports local businesses, authentic experiences, and sustainable living. It’s a community that constantly chooses love over fear, so I feel so honored to be able to share the beauty of Bellingham and continue fostering our community and our sense of togetherness.”
Connection is key for Lindell’s approach to her career and her community outreach. “I don’t believe we can have a true community without genuine connection or being authentic with ourselves and others,” says Lindell. “We need to be able to show up and share who we are, to share our hopes, goals, and dreams, and to feel supported, accepted, and loved.”
This theme carries through to Lindell’s accomplishments and volunteerism. “Most of my accomplishments could be summarized in the word ‘connecting’ or ‘connection,’” Lindell says. “The first thing I did when I got involved in the community was to assist launching the inaugural Bellingham SeaFeast in 2016. I did an internship with them and helped launch the event, as it was the first time they had done it. This year I will be managing the volunteers, so it has come full circle.”
Lindell regularly contributes to the Downtown Bellingham Partnership and Fairhaven Association, curating their websites or supplying photography and videos. As an alumnus of Western University, Lindell maintains strong relationships with professors and students alike, helping students achieve beneficial internships and steering them toward opportunities that fit their strengths and interests.
“Earlier this year, I began the Visit Bellingham Whatcom County Social Media Happy Hours to help support local businesses, attractions, fairs, and festivals,” says Lindell. “It helps the community come out from behind their computers and screens and see the people they’ve ben engaging with online. They’ve turned into quarterly meetups, and I cover topics like online engagements to answering social media questions. It’s an opportunity for Whatcom County businesses, entrepreneurs, and creators to come together and connect.”
As a Top 7 Under 40 finalist, Lindell is grateful to be recognized for her dedication to a community she loves so dearly. “I am honestly so overwhelmed, and I feel very, very honored,” Lindell says. “I’ve been fortunate to be able to invest my time and energy into the community, have some incredible experiences, and realize how our community has invested and helped shape me personally and professionally. It’s just a huge honor because it means I’m actually doing my part in representing the community and helping share the stories of our local businesses and people.”
An excerpt from Lorin’s nomination form: “As social media and public relations specialist for Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism, Lorin consistently goes above and beyond to promote the work of our marketing team and deepen community connections. (She recently launched a Social Media Happy Hour to help businesses across Whatcom County collaborate on countywide social media campaigns). Most importantly, she excels in sharing the unique beauty and culture of Bellingham and Whatcom County with audiences around the world; in 2021 alone, her efforts generated 3.9 million social media impressions, reaching more than 2.4 million users on Facebook and Instagram.”
Watch as the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce reveals the winner of the Top 7 Under 40 Whatcom Young Professional 2022 Award! Celebrate with them and the final Top 7. Enjoy food, music, beer, wine, and networking while supporting the best and the brightest young professionals in our community. More information available here.
