The Sammamish Chamber of Commerce has hired staff member Deb Sogge to be its first full time executive director, announced John James, vice president of Strategic Affairs and Ambassador Committee chair for the chamber.

Sogge previously was the membership director for three years, working part time for the chamber. When she started, the chamber had 60 members; it has now grown to nearly 250, President Dawn Sanders said.

“What I really appreciate about Deb is how much she cares about the community and especially about businesses in Sammamish,” Sanders said. “With her marketing background, Deb is able to understand how important it is to help businesses market themselves to be successful and how to find the most cost effective way to do that. As a community member she is in touch with the needs of the community, especially as we grow the Town Center.”

Sogge previously worked for the ARAMCO American Schools in Saudi Arabia and at the Plateau’s Blackwell Elementary School, as an instructional aide, as well as with “Welcome New Neighbor” and the popular Sammamish map.

A Sammamish resident since 1984, she has two grown sons and a daughter who is a senior at Eastlake High School.

“I feel very lucky to have Deb as a friend and as the Executive of the Sammamish Chamber at this pivotal growth period. I expect wonderful things to take place under her leadership,” Sanders said.

John James made the announcement before the Sammamish City Council on Tuesday, and updated the council on the chamber’s progress.

“We are growing faster than we had anticipated,” James said, noting that this change had been planned but the board decided to move forward four months ahead of schedule.

Sogge told the council that she looks forward to working with the city staff members and council members, as well as members of the business community and community at large.

CEF extends event registration

The Chris Elliott Fund for Glioblastoma Brain Cancer Research has extended the registration deadline for its annual fundraising event, “Help Secure a Cure – the 7th Annual Chris Elliott Golf Tournament, Dinner, and Auction” on Oct. 3.

The new deadline is Sept. 15, said Dellann Elliott, executive director of CEF. About half of the 350 tickets have been sold.

Elliott gave a glimpse of some of this year’s auction items:

• “Travel with the Seahawks:” You and a guest will travel with the Seahawks team to Tampa Bay for the Oct 19 game on their private plane, travel and stay with the team at their hotel, travel by bus the next day with the Hawks to the field for a pre-game sideline tour from a Seahawk VP, watch the game from prime seats and travel back to Seattle in the Hawks private plane.

• Sea Gals annual calendar judge: Join John Curley and judge the Sea Gals for their annual calendar.

• Mariner groundskeeper experience: Practice with the Mariner’s Groundskeepers and learn their moves, and get an opportunity to wow the crowd as you perform in front of the crowd at a Mariner’s game. Four Mariner tickets comes with the package.

For more information or to register, visit www.ChrisElliottFund.org.