| The Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce (GNCC) welcomed five new Board members at its first meeting of 2022 last month. The two women and three men bring broad skills and deep experience in financial services, transgender health, entrepreneurship and business services. “I am honored to have such a dedicated and experienced group of community and business leaders join our 24-member Board of Directors,” said Vince Jackson, Executive Director of the GNCC. The new Board members are Jennifer Ewers, Christopher Gallivan, Doug Gilbert, Randy Krotowski, and Katie Wolf. “Our newest Board members have already demonstrated their commitment to the Chamber, to our community, and to the health of the region,” Jackson said. “These five newest Board members offer the GNCC Board a diversity of age, gender and experience. Three are in leadership roles on standing Chamber committees, and two who are newer to the Chamber are making deep investments in the financial and physical health of our community members,” said Rich Horton, President of the GNCC. Jennifer Ewers is a Florence resident and is an insurance broker at Finck & Perras Insurance there. She holds a leadership position on the GNCC’s Investor and Ambassador Committee, having twice co-chaired the membership drive/Connect Campaign. She is also chairing the GNCC’s Partners Committee. Ewers is an active community volunteer, wife, mother and business person, serving on the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County, the Easthampton Chamber of Commerce, and she is an active member of the Northampton Rotary Club. Additionally, Ewers is current Chair of the Board of Directors of Cancer Connection. She earned her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. Christopher Gallivan, of Feeding Hills, is a Business Solutions Consultant with Complete Payroll Solutions of Springfield. A leading member of the GNCC’s Investor and Ambassador Committee, Gallivan co-chaired the membership drive/Connect Campaign and has demonstrated his insight into what businesses are looking for in connection, collaboration, and support. He also served on GNCC’s Planning Committee for its Virtual Annual Meeting last year and played a key role in the production. A member of other local area chambers through his work, he brings creative ideas for raising awareness of the GNCC’s mission and its revenues. Gallivan earned his B.S. degree in Business from Keene State University. Doug Gilbert is a Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer at Florence Savings Bank in Florence. Gilbert earned his B.S. in Accounting at Westfield State University and his MBA in Finance from the University of Connecticut. Additionally, he is a Certified Public Accountant in Massachusetts. Gilbert lives in Agawam with his wife and three children. Doug is eager to bring his 25+ years experience in community banking working with small and medium sized businesses to the GNCC. His perspective on their business and financial needs is of significant value to the Chamber during this challenging economic time. Randy Krotowski, who lives with his wife in Northampton, is a retired technology executive and community volunteer. He earned his Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) in Chemical Engineering at the University of Toronto and his MBA at Golden Gate University. His experience spans executive, for-profit board and non-profit board memberships, and he has a deep interest in and involvement with the entrepreneurship community in the Pioneer Valley. His significant experience with strategy development and execution is evident through his active membership on GNCC’s Economic Development Committee. Krotowski offers a unique, outside perspective having lived in 10 cities across North America over the last 40 years. Katie Wolf, who lives in Northampton, is the Chief Operating Officer of Transhealth in Florence. Transhealth is an independent and comprehensive trans healthcare center built to empower trans and gender-diverse adults, children, and families in the western Mass region and beyond. Wolf brings a wealth of skills and experiences to her role on the Chamber Board including LBGTQIA+ healthcare, operations, change management, strategy, technology & informatics, data analysis, and planning. Wolf earned her B.A. in Women and Gender Studies at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and her M.B.A. from Simmons University. |
At its January meeting, the board of directors of the GNCC voted on its officers for 2022. Rich Horton will continue in his role as president and Kevin Neill was selected as vice president. Kevin, who is Vice President of the Cooley Dickinson Medical Group, joined the Chamber Board to connect to and work closely with the communities that Cooley serves. Kelly Rose was selected as Treasurer. Kelly is a CPA and brings over 25 years of working with non-profit organizations, small businesses and individuals in the Greater Northampton area, and is herself a new investor (member) of the Chamber. As Executive Director, Vince Jackson serves as Clerk. Others on the board’s Executive Committee include Mark NeJame, Attorney at NeJame & Kling and at-large committee member; Ruth Griggs, President of the Northampton Jazz Festival and Chair of the GNCC Nominating Committee; and Logan Ebbets, Senior Physician and Advanced Practice Provider Recruiter and representative of the Downtown Northampton Association.