Saugus Chamber of Commerce

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The Saugus Chamber of Commerce started in 1971 under the name of the Route One Businessmen's Association. It changed its name in 1988 to the Route One Area Business Association; it became the Saugus Chamber of Commerce in 1991.

Its roster of presidents include (in order of service date): Arthur Castraberti, Frank Giuffrida, Sandy Angus, John Caruso, George O. Gregson, James B. Sickles, Robert Lavoie, Patricia Donoghue, Hans Bewersdorf, Kathryn A. Fiore, Joseph M. Vinard, Peter A. Rossetti Jr., Michael J. Walsh, Kathryn A. Fiore, Peter A. Rossetti Jr., John Smolinsky, Tom Gannon, Nancy D'Anna, and Jim Morin.

While the Chamber has a full elected board of officers, its day-to-day operations are handled by an executive director.

Its original executive director was Dolores Sarver. The position was in fact made for her in the mid 1970s. When she retired, Rick DeSanctis took over, and when he left the position was passed on to Desiree McKelvey.

In 2003 the Chamber saw a little controversy as several of its largest members left en masse to form the Saugus Business Partnership. While officially the two organizations are not in competition with one another, most local businesses are members of just one or the other, not both.

[edit] References

"A Gathering of Memories: Saugus 1900-2000" by John Burns, Tom Sheehan, et al.; 2000, Jostens / Saugus.net, ISBN 0-9703141-0-8; http://www.saugus.org/GatheringOfMemories/ (Provides the roster of presidents up through 2000)
"Saugus Business Broadcast". (The Chamber's Monthly magazine; all issues contain some basic information about the Chamber - in particular, the most recent presidents came from this source).
"About the Saugus Business Partnership". Retrieved Feb. 19, 2006. (Contains information about the separation of the Saugus Business Partnership.)