New Chamber Director Hits the Road to Gauge Local Business Climate

You could call it a listening tour.

Erin Donovan-Boyle hasn’t been the executive director of the Newport County Chamber of Commerce for very long, landing the job this past May.

She brings a wealth of political and economic experience to the task and clearly was qualified for her role leading the chamber’s efforts to promote and support businesses in Newport County. She wouldn’t have been chosen for the job if she wasn’t.

But good leaders know that sometimes, to get a clear picture of the task at hand, it takes getting out of the executive office and spending some time on the front lines.

So Donovan-Boyle has “hit the road” and has launched a multi-month campaign to spend time with local business owners in each of the towns served by the chamber.

In September, Portsmouth has been the focus and she’s already met with Stalise, Deborah Winthrop Lingerie, Kimberly for Consistently Excellent Eyebrows, Atria, Fatigati’s Fresh Pasta, and Weatherly Tile and Stone.

She will continue visiting Chamber businesses in Portsmouth throughout the month of September and then will continue on to Tiverton, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, and Jamestown.

The campaign will revolve around spending time each Tuesday afternoon with a business oners. Chamber business members who’d like a visit are asked to call 401-847-1608 to schedule a Tuesday for her to visit.

“We look forward to our continued work within Newport County and for the Executive Director to have the opportunity to engage face to face with the business community,” a news release stated.

During the visits, Donovan-Boyle is introducing herself and might mention chamber initiatives and offerings. At the same time, she wants to learn more about their businesses and the business climate.

You can follow her travels on the Newport County Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.