Speaking at Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce’s “Changing of the Guard” event at Mercer Oaks Golf Club on Tuesday, the new chairman, Pat Ryan — a Hopewell Valley resident and chairman of the board of Hopewell Valley Community Bank — said:
”Beyond any doubt, it is both a humbling experience and a daunting challenge to assume this position — especially in light my all-star group of predecessors.
The former chairs who have led the chamber during my six-year board tenure are very formidable — Michael Hierl, Karen Jezierny, Larry Krampf and Bob Hillier. Each made an indelible mark on our organization and established a tradition of leadership and accomplishment that will be difficult to duplicate.”
The Princeton Chamber “is not your regular business organization. We are truly a unique Chamber of Commerce based in a truly unique community. Some of the characteristics that set us apart include the fact that we count as a key member one of the greatest educational and research institutions in the world in Princeton University.
”We enjoy very close ties and marvelous cooperative agreements with Fortune 500 corporations such as Tyco, NRG, Bristol Myers, Johnson and Johnson as well as many others.
”If you are not a Princeton Chamber member, you have to join or you are going to miss a great deal. We offer a comprehensive range of programs, which includes an annual total of 33 monthly breakfasts, lunches and after-work events where you can network yourself to success.
”Our Economic and Health Care Summits are unmatched in their ability to provide valuable information on current developments of vital importance to non-profits and businesses alike.”
The breakfasts, lunches and summits feature “top quality speakers. Our Program Committee, led by Peter Dawson, makes certain we have only the best presenters, including nationally recognized figures such as Tom Keene of Bloomberg, Bob Doll of BlackRock and Professor Paul Krugman of Princeton.”
The LEEEP initiative is aimed at rising young professionals. They can enjoy a social experience with contemporaries and participate in training in career skills and on the “importance of civic, community and charitable engagement in the personal development.”
The Women in Business Alliance has had “exciting sold-out events tailored specifically to address the challenges women face in the workplace.”
And, what other Chamber of Commerce” offers an annual Einstein Lecture featuring a presentation by a recent Nobel Prize Winner in the physical sciences?”
In a few weeks, the Chamber will move into new offices at 183 Nassau St. Pursuant to the sale of the former headquarters, the Princeton Chamber Foundation is reorganizing. “You will see additional innovative activity from that direction during the year. Vice Chairman John Thurber will be a key part of this reorganization.
”Throughout the past nine months, we conducted an exhaustive business and strategic planning process where we carefully examined and analyzed all of our procedures, finances, processes, programs and activities. This planning process developed 24 distinct recommendations on how we could improve our events, delivery of services, administrative activities and communications strategy. Vice Chairman Michelle Everman will be working throughout the year to coordinate the implementation of the recommendations.”
In closing, Mr. Ryan said: “We have a great team. It will be my challenge to ensure that all of us — the leadership, the staff, the board and the volunteers continue to collaborate, innovate and work together to serve our members and live up to the pledge, which is displayed on our logo that we are a ‘Champion For Business.’”
The Princeton area is not the only one served by the Princeton group. The Princeton Chamber’s reports indicate it has 36 members with businesses in the Hopewell Valley region.
