Michelle Crowley, President and CEO of the Greater Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce
A purse. Also known as most women’s best friend and confidant. An object to safely carry one’s most important possessions. Makeup. Pens. Medicine. Pictures of family members. A purse may also be an object to stash random, once-important items: receipts or yesterday’s to-do list that never got done. Either way, a bag is handy and fun, which is exactly why Michelle Crowley loves hers. As the president and CEO of the Greater Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce, as well as wife to her husband Steve and “Momchelle” to their kids, she has a penchant for her bag and everything that is inside. Michelle is in constant contact with the surrounding community, helping connect with individuals on how they can start a business and grow as entrepreneurs and even helping tourists to have the best visit possible. Here is an inside look at Michelle’s purse and some of the odds and ends that add importance and fun to her everyday life.
1. From a young age, Michelle’s mom has always taught her the value of a “good” handbag. One that has a zipper at the top, to close in case of carrying valuable items or simply to keep random objects from dispersing from the bag. She always looks for bags that have a lot of pockets, especially one with a “stash” compartment—mainly to hide an extra twenty dollars, just in case. Michelle said that when she was a child, she loved that her mom always had a secret stash compartment, simply because she liked being the daughter that got to spend what was inside. All in all, Michelle appreciates a solid, big handbag that can carry anything she may need during
her workday.
Inside the bag:
2. For Michelle, wristlets are essential. She says that these tend to change with the season, that way she can keep the same bag but change what is inside of it. She appreciates one that has room to store important items, such as her cell phone, keys, and cash. This summer, Michelle carried the Spartina Multi Phone Wallet. She also has a black patent leather Coach wristlet that she has carried for a few years—you can’t go wrong with that.
3. In most handbags, makeup is a common object. In Michelle’s case, you can find an Elizabeth Arden lipstick. She says,
4. To accompany Michelle during her long day, she carries her iPhone 6 in her red Lifeproof case. With a busy job, staying in contact with large amounts of people is extremely important and crucial in her every- day career. A cracked phone screen is out of the question!
5. Michelle’s mother taught her how to sew. Over the years, she and her friends started a small quilting bee, so naturally a spool of thread will always be an important item in her bag! “Our quilts tend to be more modern—we sew on Saturdays during college football season. We eat soup and then drink wine at the end of the day.” How fun!
6. As the president of The Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce, Michelle always has a few Chamber maps and literature. She likes to stay on her “A” game throughout her workday, even if she is at a convenience store and someone is lost. Michelle says that being prepared like this is very helpful. “It builds goodwill and hopefully the lost person spends their money in Carlisle.” You will never miss a beat on what is happening with the chamber and the Carlisle business community when you find yourself next to this woman.
7. As an active member of the Carlisle community, what better way to show support from local businesses than to keep a little piece of them with you everywhere you go? Michelle says that she always has a handful of golf tees in her bag. “I always have an extra one in my pocket, so I throw it in my purse. Mountz Jewelers donates the best golf tees to community golf events. They are tougher to break. Love ‘em.”
8. Remember that secret stash compartment Michelle likes to have in her bags? Well this particular element that she is attracted to just happens to be a perfect place for receipts. “I love spending my money locally, especially with Small Business Saturday and Christmas coming up! My husband doesn't always see these receipts, so my purse hides them well," she jokes.
9. Michelle always has some pieces of jewelry in her bag. “It is usually always an extra pair of earrings. Right now, I have a small silver pair with a little gold medallion on them—I leave the house some mornings in a hurry, so I forget to put earrings in. When this happens I tend to feel a little off, so I take out my hidden purse pair.” Having a love for the community she works in, Michelle loves locally made jewelry or anything made in the U.S.
10. If there is any down time for Michelle, a book from History on High, the Cumberland County Historical Society Bookstore, is something she likes to keep handy in her purse. “Right now it is the book about Jim Thorpe and his time in Carlisle.”
11. Just like everyone, Michelle too needs to get away from her everyday stomping grounds for a bit. “We are planning a family and friends' trip to the Florida Keys to celebrate my step-daughter’s birthday.” Right now Michelle is carrying a Florida travel guide. She says that the Whistlestop Bookstore has so many travel guides and that she still prefers the print editions, which are much more reliable if the reception is bad or the satellites are down.
