Published: August 21, 2008 04:55 pm      

A passion for horses, a passion for Edmond

A part of 20 under 35, a supplement of The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — One successful business leader in the community went to Northeastern A&M on a horse judging scholarship and still spends many weekends judging horses.

Lydia Miller, director of communications for the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce, also volunteers to help with the horses and pigs at Peppers Ranch, a home for abused and neglected boys.

“Horses has always been a passion of mine,” Miller said.

The 25-year-old met the boys from Peppers Ranch in 2007 and asked if they needed any help with the horses. Now, she often goes out to help the boys with the animals and spend time with them.

“It’s been good learning from them and seeing them grow as people,” Miller said.

She has learned a few lessons from her work at the ranch that helps her with her work at the chamber.

“They’re young boys and sometimes they really stretch your patience,” she said. “It’s taught me how to handle a lot of situations.”

In addition to her busy weekends, Miller is the staff liaison for 15 committees through her work at the chamber, including the Small Business Council, Military Affairs Council and the Education Council.

“This position gives me such an opportunity to give back to the community,” she said. “That’s why I took it.”

Miller said she has found a lot of mentors in the business owners and people in the community that she has met as the director of communications.

“It’s nice to have all these people on committees,” she said. “They come from all walks of life.”

One of Miller’s recent accomplishments was writing the “ Edmond Chamber Centennial. Proud Past. Prosperous Future,” the chamber’s Centennial project.

Amanda Bowen, a co-worker, said Miller is great to work with and always asks her if she needs help when she starts a new project.

“She’s definitely someone who can make you smile and light things up,” Bowen said.

Before working at the chamber, Miller earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations from the University of Oklahoma. She worked at The Oklahoma Daily, did public relations for the College of Arts and Sciences and played polo.

Miller earned a master’s degree in integrated marketing at Roosevelt University in Chicago. While in Chicago, she worked in public relations for the Field Museum.

She moved back to Oklahoma in 2006 and began working for the chamber in 2007.

Miller lives with her husband Jake Brown, who is a scientific driller, two horses, Chip and Dotty, and two cats, Sailor and Autumn. The couple attends St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and Miller said she currently is taking classes to convert to Catholicism. They hope to soon buy their first home.