Matthew Mandell to Head Chamber of Commerce

Breaking with tradition, the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce announced today it has picked a community leader, not a businessperson, as its new president and executive director—Matthew Mandell.

Matthew Mandell: “great opportunity” to make Westport better. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

A longtime Westporter currently serving his fifth term representing District 1 on the Representative Town Meeting (RTM), Mandell has been a familiar, outspoken presence at RTM and myriad town meetings, championing causes the business community favors.

“Matthew has shown a rare ability to advocate and lead,” said Jonathan Baron, chairman of the chamber’s board of directors. “He’s imaginative and processes the right social and technical skills to break new ground in the changing landscape of business in our community.”

Baron said that Mandell caught the organization’s eye two-and-a-half years ago “with how he created the Slice of Saugatuck Festival to promote local businesses and his influence to promote what is now a new restaurant district on the west side of the river downtown.”

Mandell serves on five RTM subcommittees, including RTM Planning and Zoning Committee, of which he is chair, that has made him a familiar voice on issues pertaining to businesses. He has also been a trustee at Earthplace, the Nature Discovery Center, since 2007.

In addition, Mandell has been highly visible in his support for open space and historic preservation, working to save the 22-acre Partrick Wetlands, six acres at the White Barn Theater and 11 acres at the Norden property in Norwalk. He has advocated the preservation of an 1800s house on the Terrain property, the historic barn at Geiger’s, and most recently, the Kemper-Gunn house.

His Kemper-Gunn support melded historic preservation and business interests. The planned move of the the late 19th century-built structure from Church Lane to town-owned space in the Baldwin parking lot, saves it from demolition and at the same time facilitates the Bedford Square retail, residential and restaurant development.

Mandell says he is excited about the new post and plans to revamp the chamber founded in 1931 to “embrace new technology, innovation and adopt new practices to bring our businesses and community together.”

“Westport sells itself,” said Mandell. “I love this place, and I believe this is a great opportunity to continue my work to make it even better.

“It’s all about building relationships and getting people out to experience and know what our businesses have to offer, everything else will fall into place from there.”

Mandell, 54, grew up in the Bronx, N.Y. and attended the Bronx High School of Science. He went on to Boston University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in communications followed by a master’s degree in fine arts in film at New York University.

On his website, he describes himself as “a writer, web designer and media consultant.”

He says he met his future wife, Cara, at day camp while spending a summer in Westport in 1972. After weekending in Westport for 20 years, he says they finally moved here about a decade ago. His wife is a vice president and associate general counsel at JPMorgan Chase & Co. The couple’s two children attend Staples High School.

In 2010, Mandell unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination to run for the District 136 seat in the state House of Representatives. It is currently held by his former RTM colleague, Jonathan Steinberg.

In his Chamber job, he replaces Heather Cavanagh who returned to the position in February after having served there on two previous occasions. (See WestportNow Jan. 30,2014) And he follows in the footsteps of fellow RTM member Lois Schine, who held the Chamber position for 16 years before retiring in 2004.