North Central Chamber installs new officers, directors at annual meeting

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A new year, a new beginning.

That theme seemed to surface in a numbers of ways last Thursday afternoon during the North Central Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting.

A total of 15 business professionals – along with Executive Director Deborah A. Ramos – were officially installed as the Chamber’s new slate of officers for the 2015 calendar year.

Perhaps it was fitting that the annual affair was held inside the North Providence Town Hall’s Assembly Room, as each and every new officer seemed especially upbeat and excited about the organization that serves the towns of Johnston, North Providence, Smithfield, Foster, Glocester and Scituate.

Headlining the new slate of officers is Dorothy Swain, the assistant director of the Greenville Public Library, who has been with the Chamber for well over six years. She will serve a one-year term as the Chamber’s president.

Although she’s a bit nervous about her new position, Swain brings excitement and passion to the post, along with vast experience with the Chamber. She has served the group as an ambassador, a member of its marketing department and on the all-important Women in Business Council, and has attended numerous Chamber and civic events during her years of dealing with the public as a librarian and business professional.

She has also worked before, after and during the highly popular Apple Fest, which has been the Chamber’s most important yearly fundraiser.

“I feel passionate about this chamber,” Swain said after last Thursday’s annual meeting. “One reason, in particular, is because the Chamber has a lot to offer and the people are great. This Chamber may be small, but the relationships that I have formed within it have been strong.”

That statement seemed to put smiles on the faces of Ramos and five other newly installed officers, as well as the nine people who will serve on the Chamber’s Board of Directors.

Swain has been in the library field for some time. She has been with the Greenville Library for 26 years, serving as assistant director for the last 14 years.

“I have always loved working in libraries,” Swain said. “It is very rewarding providing people with information that they need, recommending a good book or presenting an informative or entertaining program. Providing service to the public has always been what is most important to me.”

David Blanchette, who works at Rhode Island College, was installed as the Chamber’s first vice chair, while the position of second vice chair remains vacant.

Jamie Dufresne of The Children’s Workshop is the new secretary, and Robert Vellucci of Navigant Credit Union will serve as treasurer. Randy Rauso, a public and community relations specialist, is the immediate past chair, and Laurie Audet, an agent for Keller Williams Realty, is a member at large.

The Chamber’s directors, and their respective affiliations, are Joel Bessette, Navigant Credit Union; Greg Borengasser, RTS Embroidery & Professional Products; Anthony Chavier, Citizens Bank; Ann-Mary Currier, theCurrier Words & events; Tim Forsberg, Beacon Communications; Gina Fugere, iHeart Media; Shannon Moniz, Citizens Bank; Daniel Orovitz, The Washington Truest Company; and Nancy Rosedale, Bank of America.

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