Getting to Know 2022 Board Chair Alex Husner

Each fall, the chamber’s board of directors elects a new chair to take the helm the following year. Alex Husner officially stepped into the role as the year turned anew. She took time to answer our questions to help us learn more about her and her goals for 2022.

What does a day in the life of Alex Husner look like?

Every day always looks a little different, but most of my time during the week is spent at Condo-World headquarters in North Myrtle Beach, at Chamber meetings, or visiting our resort partners. I travel to vacation rental conferences several times a year to stay on top of trends that affect our business, and love the opportunity to learn, share and network within a very collaborative industry.

What is your favorite aspect of your career?

When I started at Condo-World 13 years ago, my job was to take the company into the digital era and build the brand to national recognition within the vacation rental industry. Our owner gave me autonomy to make a lot of big decisions from the start, which allowed me to see that progress comes from both the wins and the misses that happen along the way. We’ve built our brand over the past decade by combining a B2B and B2C approach, fueled by internally built software and technology. I love working with our team to develop systems we utilize at Condo-World that can also be adapted by other resorts and rental companies to grow their businesses. It’s been a rewarding, exciting, and challenging journey!

Why did you decide to join the MBACC board?

When I moved to The Beach in 2007, I quickly saw how much of an integral role the Chamber played to the destination, both for residents and visitors. My first job was with a small advertising agency, and I remember when we inquired about joining the Chamber, the Chairman of the Board at that time (Brant Branham) came to meet with me personally. The fact that a businessperson of his stature cared enough to take time out of his day to share how the MBACC could help our small business succeed really impacted me. I knew this was an organization that cared about its members and one that I wanted to be more involved with as my career grew.

What goals do you have as the board chair for the MBACC?

It’s been an honor to have a front row seat to see the impact the MBACC has had on the growth of our destination for the past several years as a board member. My goal is for 2022 to be remembered as the year that two major initiatives -  I-73 and the redevelopment of our downtown area - came to fruition with shovels in the ground and a sustained path to completion. While the two projects are different in nature, they pave a runway for growth for the destination that benefits residents and visitors alike. I look forward to working closely with the MBACC, the City of Myrtle Beach, Horry County and our local and state delegations to achieve these goals.

Why do you recommend businesses invest with the MBACC and/or CVB?

There is no better way to connect with the business community than by joining the MBACC. The opportunities to network and grow your business are exponential. The MBACC staff is passionate about helping their members and they are truly an advocate for your success. When you join the MBACC/CVB, you are supporting the political advocacy efforts that benefit our community and your business, including COVID-19 relief & recovery, infrastructure, economic development, education, workforce development, public safety, tourism, and DEI.

What is your favorite beach on the Grand Strand and why?

All the beaches on the Grand Strand are beautiful, but the Tilghman section of North Myrtle Beach is my favorite. Every year we rent one of Condo-World’s beach homes and get to enjoy a week living like our guests do, enjoying the beach and pool and soaking up the sun! We love walking to Coconuts Beach Bar and downtown to Main Street for dinner and live music.

What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

I’ve played a variety of sports in my lifetime, including horseback riding, crew, ice hockey, snow skiing, golf and tennis. Ice hockey is probably the one that surprises people the most; I only played for one season, but behind the bruises was a major confidence builder. I barely knew how to skate on the first day of practice, but somehow made it through the season (without any serious injuries) and got to start in the last game of the season. (Side note, I would love for Myrtle Beach to get an ice hockey team someday!)