KAYSVILLE -- After close to 10 years, it's hard for Chris Dallin to think about leaving. "It's been a special experience for me. I've been good for the Chamber and it's been good for me." Dallin has been named public relations director at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden. While he's excited about the new opportunities, it's evident from the roll of paper towels nearby, the move is not going to come without lots of feelings and emotion. "We've come a long way. We have a wonderful staff. It was never me. It was a group of marvelous people," he said. But some would describe as miraculous the things that have happened during the time Dallin has been at the helm of what is now the state's third largest chamber of commerce.

"When I was hired, people said, 'We've merged Layton and Clearfield. Wouldn't it be cool to merge the entire county. But that will never happen."

That was the sentiment when Dallin became CEO of what was first the Layton/North Davis Chamber and then the Greater North Davis Chamber, which included all of North Davis except Kaysville and Fruit Heights.

"What we've now seen is the Hatfields and McCoys sitting down together. I'm really proud of that," he said, figuratively speaking of how unthinkable meetings between the two parts of the county have become commonplace, as a chamber.

"It's been almost six years" since North Davis, Kaysville and South Davis Chambers were merged. I think that single act created a wave in Davis County that I don't think we will fully understand for some time," he said.

Other developments Dallin named included the influence of the Legislative Affairs Committee, which sometimes means legislators from other counties seek support from that group; the Military Affairs Committee, which has strengthened bonds between Hill Air Force Base and the community; and creation of Davis Cable Channel 17.

"It's the first channel of its kind in the country," he said of Channel 17. "I think it really has potential in the county. It's an incredible service. Now someone in North Salt Lake can see what's happening in Clearfield.

"It's helping to create understanding. The channel has the ability to become something very special," Dallin continued.

Of the Antelope Island Balloon Stampede, which went forward in spite of bad weather, he said, "I think time will tell if it will become a regional if not national event, allowing people to experience Davis County."









Gov. Jon Huntsman has called the Davis Chamber "the greatest in the state," and even people in other parts of the country have asked Dallin to come and assist them in organizing similar mergers.

Members of the Chamber have been asked to testify on Washington, D.C. on health care issues, for example, while even President Bush has sent a letter of acknowledgement.

"I'm really proud of the service we have offered. We have done whatever we could to bring in new businesses, to generate revenue so that the community could thrive.

"We have come a long way," Dallin said. "It was never me. It was a group of marvelous people. It's just a good group of people who want to make a difference. You can make a difference.

"Now all kinds of people are seeing that we can make Davis County better," he said, recalling when, as a child, his mother used to read him the story, "The Little Engine That Could."

"Maybe a added a little spark." Or, as the expression that started being fondly used was, "Light your hair on fie."

Dallin and his wife, Candice, live in Clinton, and he said "we plan to live here forever." She works for the Ogden Symphony/Ballet Association.

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com