On Monday, Dec. 15, the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce announced Bridgewater resident Jim Kelly as its new executive director.
Beth Finlayson will end her tenure as executive director at the end of this month. In the new year, Kelly will step into the role.
“Kelly brings a strong commitment to the region and its small businesses, and a deep appreciation for the people, landscapes, and enterprises that make the Woodstock area thrive,” Chamber president Loren Fisher told the Standard. “He is first and foremost a Woodstock man. He grew up here, knows the community, knows the businesses. He has a deep love and passion for this place, and I know he will help all of our businesses thrive.”
Jim Kelly
For Fisher, it was important to choose a candidate capable of balancing and aiding businesses impacted directly by tourism, as well as those not affected at all. “We live in a tourist-based town, but it is important that we are servicing all aspects of this community. We want to incentivize businesses and help each business feel included, even if they fall outside the scope of tourism,” Fisher continued. “The second you meet Jim, it feels like you’ve known him forever. It’s this friendliness that will be a welcome presence to each business we support and engage with.”
“With a strong background in sales and marketing, and the skill set to provide a service to each business, I think Jim can help the Chamber not only survive but truly thrive.”
Fisher and the rest of the Chamber board looked at several candidates across the Upper Valley. “While it was not a nationwide search,” Fisher told the Standard, “It was important for us to be community-based and select a person who knew Woodstock well, especially following Beth [Finlayson] and her strong community presence here during her tenure.”
For more on this, please see our Dec. 18 edition of the Vermont Standard.
