Chamber president retires after 17 years
Date: 11/8/2013
By Katelyn Gendron
katelyn@thereminder.comCHICOPEE – Gail Sherman may have announced her retirement as president of the Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce but she’s not resting her heels up on her desk just yet.
She will walk away to pursue personal goals after 17 years at the helm once the search committee names her replacement by year’s end; but until then, Sherman said there’s much to be done, including the completion of the accreditation process by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
“Everything we do is put under the microscope,” she said of the accreditation. “They keep you pushing forward. It’s worth it. It gives us credibility and we’re proud of that.”
Ron Proulx, chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors said in a statement, “Gail Sherman is going to be missed. I have worked with her for the past six years and found her to be a great leader. Her commitment to the Chamber has been remarkable. Gail’s relationship with members, community leaders, and elected officials has created a branding of the Chamber as a regional collaborator, a valuable advocate for members and a necessary component in the area’s economic development.”
When asked how the Chamber has evolved during her tenure, Sherman replied, “We pay more attention to economic development and be an advocate in Legislature. It’s not just your grandpa’s Chamber where you join just because it’s ‘the right thing to do’ ... The Chamber followed a trend in really making sure members are relevant in the global economy.
“We’ve gone through a lot of ups and downs and the trend for Chambers has really started to focus on economic development and legislative issues. We’ve become a united voice of business. We are constantly speaking up for our members and being their advocates,” she continued.
Sherman noted that one of the Chamber’s greatest successes is an “incubator program,” which allows start-ups to be mentored and gain the economic traction that they need to thrive.
She called the decision to retire as “bitter-sweet” but hoped that her replacement would carry on the proud traditions of the Chamber while also “bringing it to a whole other level.”
Sherman was quick to note, however, that she won’t just “fade into the blue,” as she plans to continue with several community service projects.
“I have enjoyed every moment of it [this job] and now I want to enjoy the things that I’ve put on hold such as gourmet cooking or travel,” she said with a chuckle.
