Your Chamber Team
Candy Hente
Executive Director/CEO
573-756-3615
Candy Hente has been part of the Farmington community since 2007. Even before joining the Farmington Regional Chamber team, she was an active part of the Chamber community.
She has worked for, volunteered and networked with many of the local non-profit agencies, including the Public Relations Director for the Parkland Pregnancy Resource Center, worked with Young Faith in Christ, St. Francois County Mental Health Board, Hope 4 Autis,m and St. Francois County Community Partnership, and was a member of the St Francois County Rotary Club. In 2015, the Farmington Regional Chamber of Commerce recognized Candy’s contributions with the KFMO/B104 Super Service Award.
Prior to becoming the Farmington Regional Chamber Executive Director, Candy was a Certified Work Incentive Counselor at LIFE Center for Independent Living, where she analyzed the impact of work income for individuals receiving disability benefits.
Candy was also a leader for 14 years on the regional and national level for Protestant Women of the Chapel, an Armed Forces chaplain-sponsored ministry to military wives. She is a graduate of Rhema Bible Training Center and King’s Way Missionary Institute. Candy and her husband, Stephen, live in Farmington and in her spare time enjoys hiking, reading, and attending art-related events.
Julie Estes
Small Business Specialist/Membership Coordinator
573-756-3615
Julie Estes, a devoted lifelong resident of St. Francois and Washington Counties, brings a wealth of community engagement and professional expertise to her role as Small Business Specialist at the Farmington Regional Chamber.
Julie holds an Associate of Arts Degree from Mineral Area College and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Administration and Business Management from Central Methodist University. Her commitment to continuous learning is evident through certificates in Digital Marketing, Project Management Risk, Cross-Channel Content for Digital Marketing, and Workplace Culture, earned from Oregon State University College of Business.
With a diverse professional background, Julie spent 12 years in the Real Estate Title Industry and where she was recognized as an expert in title research. Prior to working in the title industry, she was employed at Mineral Area College in Student Services and Financial Aid. She utilized her multifaceted skill set to create media guides and other programs for the Athletic Department, showcasing her dynamic approach to tasks.
Julie’s professional experience, education, and community involvement are tremendous assets in serving the business community. Her present role at the SBDC allows her to channel her rich experience into supporting and empowering local small businesses in St. Francois County, Washington, Iron, Madison, and Ste. Genevieve counties.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Julie is an active member of Parkland Chapel and has coached girls’ volleyball for 11 years. Her greatest joy comes from spending quality time with her husband, Gary, and their two children, Lily and Wyatt. As a family, they cherish exploring hiking trails and uncovering the historical richness of St. Francois and the surrounding counties.
Emily Hulsey
Event Coordinator
573-756-3615
Emily, born and raised in Farmington, has a deep love for the Parkland she calls home. She began her career with the Farmington Regional Chamber in early 2022 and has enjoyed giving back to the community that shaped her. In her role as Event Coordinator, Emily thrives on creating experiences that bring people together and support local businesses. Her favorite event to plan is the Annual Golf Tournament, and she is proud to have coordinated the two strongest tournaments in recent Chamber history, setting records in both revenue and attendance.
Emily manages many of the Chamber's signature events, such as Ribbon-cuttings, Morning Mixers, the Christmas Parade, the Awards Banquet, Farmington Country Days, and the Chamber Golf Tournament. She also assists in planning the Chamber’s Annual Business Conference and the BOOST Women’s Conference. Among her career highlights are bringing country music artist Kaleb Austin to Farmington Country Days, introducing the first-ever Mrs. Roper Romp in 2024 to spotlight Chamber-member boutiques and small businesses, and overseeing Farmington Country Days 2025, which drew record-breaking attendance, vendors, and activities.
A graduate of St. Paul Lutheran High School’s second-ever graduating class of just three students, Emily went on to earn her associate's degree at Mineral Area College. Before joining the Chamber, she worked in child care for five years, an experience that gave her the “chaos management” skills she now puts to good use as an event planner.
Emily is passionate about fostering connections between local businesses and the community, and she loves seeing members succeed through Chamber opportunities. She married her high school sweetheart, and together they enjoy raising their two little boys. In her free time, Emily loves reading, sewing, and going on adventures with her family.