Chamber Focus Series: Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce

We continue our series focusing on Rhode Island’s Chamber of Commerce. Happy 100 years – Newport!

Celebrating 100 years in 2020, the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce is one of Rhode Island’s largest Chambers and business advocacy organizations formed to enhance the business, civic and economic vitality of the city of Newport and the surrounding towns of Middletown, Portsmouth, Bristol, Warren, Little Compton, Barrington, Tiverton, Jamestown and beyond.

They are an independent, non-profit organization with over 1,100 member companies employing more than 50,000 workers throughout the Greater Newport region and Rhode Island.

Membership is $330/year and can be paid monthly, quarterly or yearly.

Their purpose is to leverage the region’s core assets to find solutions in the areas that matter most to the business and community, quality jobs, quality growth and quality of life.

The Greater Newport Chamber has a wide variety of programs, publications, events, and business resources that directly improve the bottom line of members.

Programs and Services

Networking

Their networking group called Chamber Connections meets twice a month at Innovate Newport in Newport – in the last 3 years they credit more than $4 Million of closed business that has been done among members.

Member Discounts

Over 300 local businesses provide discounts or features through their member Key Tag program, and more than 1,100 chamber member businesses and their employees – representing 50,000 people who can benefit. As an added benefit, visiting local and international conference attendees can also benefit by a VIP card program while they are in town.

Local events

Tons of Love Food Drive

Ongoing this month is the Chamber’s Ton of Love Food Drive for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center.

Annual Cocktail Reception/Silent Auction

This annual event supports Chamber programs and creates comaraderie among members.

Holidays by the Sea

Their Holidays by the Sea supports retail and tourism members as it encourages people to shop, stay, dine, and explore during the Christmas holiday season.

Excellence in Business Awards

This annual Business Awards event recognizes businesses who are recommended for this formal awards opportunity.

The Member Exchange

The Member Exchange is a monthly  newsletter that goes out to all members noting members’ news and local information.

Job Bank

The chamber maintains an online job bank for posting of member job openings

Chamber Chatter

Weekly informal meetings with guest speakers on a variety of business topics such as Succession Planning, State House Updates, and Tech Talks.

Weekly Radio Show

Each Thursday morning at 10am on AM 1540 WADK they have a radio show, “The Business of Greater Newport”

Connect Greater Newport

Connect Greater Newport is a new division of the Chamber focused on regional economic development. The goal is to support existing businesses realize growth and expansion opportunities while helping new businesses call the Greater Newport area home.  This new division is supported by the communities of Newport County the town of Bristol, the vanBeuren Charitable Foundation and Bank Newport.

Business Advocacy – Policy Agenda 2019

The Newport County Chamber of Commerce is working on behalf of its members to improve the overall business climate in the state through a number of specific priorities, including, advocating for specific small business issues, supporting industry sector projects that will enhance the vitality of the entire County, supporting education and workforce development initiatives, and working with local municipal government leaders to identify ways of improving the local economy.

Board of Directors

The Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce maintains 33 board members.

Executive Committee:

Bonnie Gomes, owner, WADK Radio, Chairwoman

Joe Pratt, Executive Director, Boys & Girls’ Club of Newport, Vice Chairman

Adam Thayer, Sayer Regan & Thayer, Treasurer

Cristina Offenberg, Esq., Silva, Thomas, Martland & Offenberg, Legal Counsel

Jacques Afonso, National Grid, Manager

CJ Barone, Empire Tea & Coffee

Lucas Barry, Barry Pontiac – Buick, Inc.

Milton Baxter, Rhode Island Housing

Christopher Bender, Stoneacre Brasserie, Partner

Michael Brostek, Cox Business, Vice President Cox Media

Ross Cann, A4 Architecture, AIA LEED AP

Marie Charles, Castle Hill Inn

Richard Cromwell, Freedom Boat Club of RI

Linda Dias, BankNewport, Branch Manager

Katy Donovan, Keller Williams Realty of Newport

Jason Hill, SEA CORP

Charlie Holder, Midtown Oyster Bar, Operations Manager

Jeff Karam, First Bristol Corporation

Kristin MacMannis, Bravo Charlie Delta

Molly Magee, SENEDIA

Joe Moore, Tiverton Casino Hotel

Cynthia O’Malley, Preservation Society of Newport County

Deborah Proffitt, Purvis Systems

Jairo Rugel, Newport County Computers / ATC Tech Inc.

Steve Senteio, Edward Jones

Evan Smith, Discover Newport

Toby Stapleton, Salve Regina University

Laurie Stroll, Newport Hospitality, Inc., a DMC Network Company

Andrew Tavares, Kahn, Litwin, Renza & Co., Ltd.

Lynne Tungett, Newport This Week

Glenn Almquist, Woodard & Curran

Erin Donovan-Boyle, Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce

Richard Cromwell, Maritime Solutions

Kate Grotteberg, Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce

Kristen MacMannis, Epic Decade

Staff

Erin Donovan-Boyle, Executive Director

Kate Grotteberg, Events, Development & Program Director

Lori Burke, Membership Associate

Jo-Anne Gorton, Executive Coordinator

Blakeley Andersen, Outreach, Communications & Project Manager

Rebecca Chace, Marketing & Social Media Coordinator

Ashley Medeiros, Connect Greater Newport Director

For more information on the Newport Chamber of Commerce, go to: https://www.newportchamber.com