Meet Your Chamber! – Roxie Parks, Administrative & Events Coordinator

We love serving our community near Leech Lake and around Walker, Minnesota. While we’re often behind the scenes, we want to introduce ourselves to YOU! 

Of course, don’t just read our bios here. Stop in and say hello anytime, or send us a message, here. 

Name: Roxie Parks

Title: Administrative & Events Coordinator

Family: Husband, Gregg, more of you know him than me!! Three Children who all graduated from WHA.  Derek is married to Meghan and has 1 son, Maverik.  Megan is married to Dan Kelly and has 1 daughter, Mina. Paige is married to Nick Bjorndahl and is expecting a baby girl in January.

I am sure I have already told all of you that I finally became a Grandma in May and then again in June and now again in January!  I am SOOOOOOOO excited.

How long have you lived in the Leech Lake area/which part of the Leech Lake area do you currently live? Gregg & I live on Kabekona Bay.  We built our home 25 years ago and I am pretty sure we will be there until they drag us away.

How long have you been with the Leech Lake Area Chamber of Commerce?  I always get this wrong because I love this job so much, it feels like maybe a couple of years. BUT the reality is I have been working here for 9 years.

What brought you to the Chamber? I did daycare in my home for 27 years and helped to raise many of the teachers’ children.  I was going to quit as soon as all my children started Kindergarten, but that didn’t happen.  I did stop when my last one graduated high school.   

I couldn’t decide what to do and one of my dear friends mentioned the chamber. I didn’t even know we had a chamber :). I interviewed with Cindy and we have been friends and coworkers ever since.

You have one day in Walker, Minnesota. What’s your itinerary? 

Coffee on my deck looking over our beautiful lake.

Bike ride down the trail that runs past my house.

Jump in the boat to have lunch at one of our many restaurants.

Afterwards – cruise the lake and park for a while to read a book.

Then spend the afternoon looking in our shops, which always have the best gifts.

Then evening cocktails with friends at a local bar or restaurant.

Loved ones are visiting the Leech Lake area for the first time. Where are your three MUST visit spots?

Bike Ride on the trail to the Dairy Queen

Farmer’s & Crafter’s Market at Green Scene

Shingobee Hill on the Chippewa National Forest

What do you love most about Walker and the Leech Lake area?

No matter where I go, someone waves and hollers “ Hi, How are you?”

What’s your favorite place to go out to dinner in the Leech Lake area?

I love Boulders, but I am always a sucker for pizza, so Village Square or Benson’s know me well.

What’s your favorite breakfast or brunch spot in the Leech Lake area?

I love the omelets at Jimmy’s Restaurant, but when I am rushing there is nothing better then muffins and coffee from Walker Bay Coffee

Where’s the best place to unwind with a drink, and what are you drinking?

COFFEE CAKE Beer from Portage.

Where can community members find you shopping?

Our downtown is awesome and I am sure I can’t pick one place, it depends on who I am buying for.  I would recommend a few hours to check them all out.