Fast Facts about Norma Lansing
Norma Lansing is the President and CEO of the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce in Effingham, Illinois.
Effingham County’s Chamber Destinations Travel Program welcomes 600 business members and the wider local community to sign up for culturally enriching trips. More than 250 people have traveled with the chamber since the program began in 2013.
Born: Mattoon, Illinois
Education: Graduated from Institutes for Organization Management through the University of Notre Dame
Family: Husband, Ken; three children; and seven grandchildren
Hobbies: Lansing travels during her leisure time as well as for work. Mexico is her favorite winter destination.
Sharing a Love of Travel
Standing on the Great Wall of China, Norma Lansing saw not just a world-famous landmark but also a way to share her love of travel with her community.
“China was my first introduction to an international travel program through a chamber,” said Lansing, president and CEO of the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce. “I was there on a FAM tour with the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. It really excited me with the potential opportunities because I saw how it would impact people to see other cultures.”
After visiting China in 2012, Lansing quickly offered the chamber’s first trip to China in 2013. Though she was unsure if others would be interested in traveling to China, 39 people signed up.
“It was exciting to get such a great response,” said Lansing. “That whetted my appetite to offer more travel with the chamber.”
Since the successful first trip, the chamber has offered two to three trips a year. Lansing uses the tours to immerse travelers in other cultures, connect with the community and make a little money for the chamber along the way.
