By Dave Matlow
Heather Cavanagh is back at the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce on an interim basis.
Heather Cavanagh: Returning after three-year absence. Contributed photo
Cavanagh, who joined the Chamber as executive director in 2007 and served for about a year, will assume the interim role of special projects manager effective Friday, said Paul Gehr, chairman of the board.
In this position, she will be responsible for the Chamber’s “day to day operations, government and community relations, member issues” and other projects, he said.
Lisa Thygerson, executive director of the Chamber since May 2009, resigned last month to take a position as manager of a Citibank branch in Stratford. (See WestportNow Feb. 22, 2011)
A Darien resident, Cavanaugh has been associated with several other Chambers of Commerce in Fairfield County including the Darien Chamber where she was its executive director from 2002 to 2005 and with the Norwalk Chamber as ambassador from 2006 to 2007.
“I’m excited to be back at the Westport Chamber,” she said. “I feel that I haven’t left since I always stayed involved with Westport organizations such as the Levitt Pavilion and Homes with Hope.”
Gehr, who has been Chamber chairman since January 2010 and its treasurer for the three prior years said, “Heather knows how the Chamber works.”
On a related matter, Gehr said that the Chamber has been working more closely with the Downtown Merchants Association.
He said that Bob LeRose, chair of the DMA, is also a member of the Chamber’s board since January.
“The Chamber and the DMA continue to talk about how to work together more closely,” Gehr said. “It’s mainly a simple matter of people opening up to each other.”
Gehr said that three members of the Chamber’s board are also on the DMA board as well.
“Both organizations have the same objective—we are trying to help local business,” he said.
Heather we love you! Welcome back!!