The new Renton Chamber of Commerce CEO Vicky Baxter wants to see the city enjoy prosperity.

“I really think Renton is a perfect launch for wonderful things,” said Baxter five days into her new role. “I think that past management that’s been here at the chamber has been really good from Bill Taylor to Sabrina (Mirante) to Lynn (Wallace). They’ve done really well to position the chamber for some great things.”

Baxter has more than 20 years in economic development experience and is most recently from Santa Ana, Calif., where she was the executive director of Downtown Ink, a group that’s mission was to facilitate the enhancement of downtown Santa Ana as a vibrant shopping, dining, entertainment, business and cultural destination.

Some of her accomplishments there included creating a one stop planning department for business with the City of Santa Ana and creating a merchant council, resulting in new marketing opportunities and communication. She formed collaborations with multiple business and retail groups and even started a “Downtown Divas” group for successful women for networking and coordination efforts, among other projects.

“Within four years we were able to get 60 new businesses,” she said of Downtown Ink. “And right now the whole foodie phenomenon that’s going all over the United States has really hit Santa Ana. We were able to secure some very good restaurants and retail.”

Baxter left a thriving Santa Ana and hopes to work her magic here in Renton. She already likes what she sees in the city. The restaurants are well-represented here and there is much diversity among them, she said. She also likes the overall diversity of Renton, which was also true of Southern California.

Prior to Downtown Ink, Baxter was the executive director of the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation, a 28 acre historic landmark district and state park.

“The claim to fame in old Sacramento is the Gold Rush and people come to see the re-enactors on the street from Lincoln to Civil War characters,” she said. “My position was bringing more prosperity, people into the downtown, making sure they support our businesses. I did a lot of events.”

While there, she oversaw four direct reports, more than 100 volunteers, 10 university interns and 45 re-enactors.

Before Sacramento, Baxter was head of the Yountville Chamber of Commerce in Yountville, Calif. There, she coordinated major events bringing thousands of tourists into town and worked with celebrities, who were the owners and operators of wineries, restaurants and resorts. Her accomplishments there include organizing a Veteran’s Day luncheon with the famous chefs of Yountville, resulting in local and national media attention.

One idea she’d like to bring to Renton is organizing a Fourth of July boat parade. She sees lots of potential in Renton and wants it to be a destination city not just in the summer time, but year round.

“So, I’d like to see the downtown enjoy prosperity,” she said. “I think there’s wonderful things happening in the downtown already. Many people in California knew about Renton because of the antique stores. They thought it was a very quaint downtown.”

Baxter took the job because she has an ailing mother who lives up here, more family and the circumstances turned out just right.

“The reason why, to be honest, is we have a daughter who lives in Lake Stevens and we have family up here,” she said. “And we said that if there ever was a position in Renton and this area of Washington, we would love to live up here.”

There will be a reception for Baxter from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Jan. 15 at the Renton Chamber of Commerce, 625 S. Fourth St.