New Greenwich Chamber exec vows to boost membership
Neil Vigdor, Staff Writer
Greenwich Time
Meet the new face of the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce -- Marcia O'Kane.
The organization, recruiting from the nonprofit ranks, formally introduced O'Kane as its new executive director during a Tuesday news conference at Town Hall.
O'Kane is currently president and executive director of the Stamford Senior Center.
Prior to holding that position, she was director of finance and administration of Person-to-Person, a volunteer-driven agency in Darien that helps families in need.....
.....A receiving line of chamber members greeted O'Kane after the announcement, as well as First Selectman Peter Tesei and state Reps. Livvy Floren, R-149th District, and Alfred Camillo, R-151st District.
"I wish her well, and I'm glad she's a resident of the town of Greenwich," Tesei, the town's chief elected official, said in an interview. "Certainly, she knows the town."
Weber declined to say how much the position will pay O'Kane, whose first day at the chamber will be Sept. 12. A person familiar with the search process estimated the annual salary to be in the neighborhood of $85,000 to $90,000.
O'Kane succeeds Mary Ann Morrison, who abruptly resigned in April as the business organization's leader of 11 years. Morrison's title was president and chief executive, whereas O'Kane will serve as executive director. Weber said the chamber looked at peer organizations in communities of the same size and determined executive director was a more appropriate job title.
Morrison landed a job with the Stamford Chamber of Commerce, where she is vice president in charge of membership. She is also spearheading a private fundraising effort to build a Sept. 11 memorial at Grass Island in Greenwich, which would be the second such monument in town.....
...."It's critical that the chamber supports and promotes the business community, both retail and corporate," said Tesei, who met O'Kane for the first time Tuesday.
Asked about what she would do to retain mom-and-pop stores in a retail climate tilting toward national chains and high-end boutiques, O'Kane said she would strive to promote small businesses, whether it be through advertising opportunities or offering coupons.
"We need to work with the small businesses to get that visibility out," O'Kane said.....
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