New Leaders, New Vision for Fairfield Chamber of Commerce

Fairfield's Chamber of Commerce said good-bye to its longtime president and CEO Patricia Ritchie last month, but the new leadership is ready to transform the way business is done in town.

Beverly Balaz, who has been involved with the Chamber for eight years, was appointed executive director to take over upon Ritchie's June 30 resignation. Balaz has an extensive business background and brings an area of expertise in strategic planning, marketing, and relationship development, according to a release from the Chamber.

The Chamber elected Pamala Shaughnessey-Banks as chair of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce for the 2013-2014 calendar year. Shaughnessey-Banks brings years of experience and service as the President of Shaughnessey-Banks Funeral Home in Fairfield Center, a release from the Chamber states.

Together the women hope to carry out a five-year plan designed by Balaz to strengthen commerce and entrepreneurship in Fairfield.

Balaz's business background includes revamping and re-establishing struggling companies, and that helped her create a vision to follow for Fairfield's business plan.

"I like to build and promote and follow a good strategic plan, and make it happen," Balaz told Patch during a recent interview. "I and everyone on the board are passionate about Fairfield and what we do."

The ultimate goals of the five-year plan are to increase the number of businesses that are Chamber of Commerce members, deliver services that satisfy the wants and needs of Fairfield business owners, and to promote businesses from all over town -- not just in Fairfield Center.

Balaz and Shaughnessey-Banks have a few ideas in mind to help them reach those goals.

They intend to determine the wants and needs of Chamber members and all business owners in town through discussion and surveys.

They want to promote Fairfield as a place for entrepreneurs to set up shop by working with town officials to strengthen business and community services.

"We're trying to partner with them much more than we did in the past," Shaughnessey-Banks said, adding that they plan on working closely with officials for Fairfield's 375th birthday festivities, coming in 2013.

The Chamber leaders also want to "bring on additional people who share the same vision for businesses in Fairfield."

Participating with Fairfield's universities is another goal for the Chamber -- creating scholarship programs and getting students involved in the town's commerce are important to Balaz and Shaughnessey-Banks.

The Chamber is looking for "young and up-and-coming entrepreneurs" to get involved with the organization, to share their visions, wants, and needs, Shaughnessey-Banks said.

"We want to run [the Chamber] more like a businesses, and do the programs we and our members want to put on," she added.

Keep up-to-date with the Chamber's plan, upcoming events, and programs by visiting its website. Business owners interested in becoming Chamber of Commerce members should click here to get started on applying.