Northern Rhode Island, Central Rhode Island, East Bay, East Greenwich, East Providence Area, Newport County, North Central, North Kingstown, South Kingstown & Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Chambers of Commerce
For immediate release
Contact: David R. Carlin III
dcarlin@nrichamber.com
Rhode Island’s largest business advocacy organization names local business owner David Darlington as Chair for 2011-2012
— At its regular monthly meeting, the Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce Coalition, a coalition of 10 Chambers of Commerce representing more than 6,500 member businesses and 60,000 employees, elected and installed the 2011-2012 officers for the advocacy organization.
David Darlington, a partner in the public and government relations firm The Gildea-Darlington Group, with offices in North Providence, RI, and Boston, Mass. was elected Chairman. In addition to his firm, Darlington is also involved in many public service roles. He is Chairman of the Board of the New England Trade Adjustment Center, a 501(c) 3 corporation that provides funding to New England companies adversely affected by foreign imports; a board member of New England Advance Vehicle Consortium; trustee of the East Greenwich Yacht Club; founding board member of the American Business Council, in Washington, D.C. and Chairman of the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority. Darlington previously served as Vice Chairman of the Quonset Point Port and on the Business Park management board.
“I am grateful to have been elected by the membership of this organization to lead it through 2012. Since it inception the leaders of this organization have played an important role in advocating for the 6,500 businesses represented by the 10 Chambers of Commerce that make up the coalition,” said Darlington. “It is my goal as Chairman to support this organization in its ongoing effort to inform and educate our elected officials about the impacts of public policy on the business community and the need to strike a thoughtful balance between giving businesses the freedom from overreaching regulation and taxes, to grow and create jobs and the need to fund essential public services and education.”
The selection of Darlington as Chair met with a very positive response.
John C. Gregory, President/CEO of the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce stated: “With the growth of the Chamber Coalition and the increased involvement in advocacy by our members, we are very pleased to have a person of David’s caliber leading our coalition. His experience representing client interests, his knowledge of the business community and his credibility statewide are all examples of why the Chamber Coalition believes he is an excellent choice for Chairman.”
Lauren E.I. Slocum, President/CEO of the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce added: “The selection of David Darlington as Chair of the Chamber Coalition will serve to strengthen our reputation as the state’s largest business advocacy organization. David is highly intelligent, energetic, well respected by the people he deals with and is quite personable. I am confident he will move our collective 6,500 member businesses’ best interests forward and will help provide the type of leadership that our Chamber Coalition members expect.”
Elected as Vice Chair of the Coalition was Richard Hittinger, partner in the environmental professional services firm of Alliance Environmental Group and a member of the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
For the position of Recording Secretary, the members of the Chamber Coalition returned a familiar face to that position. Immediate Past Chair and past Recording Secretary, Jeff Swallow, Human Resources Director of Electric Boat Rhode Island, will assume that role.
The first public event to introduce the officers in their new roles with the Chamber of Commerce Coalition will be the Coalition’s annual Legislative Reception. Held each year at the State House during the General Assembly session, the reception this year will be held on Thursday, March 24th from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM in the Governor’s State Room and State House Rotunda.
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The Chamber of Commerce Coalition is comprised of ten Chambers of Commerce, representing 6,500 member businesses. It is the largest business advocacy group in Rhode Island.
