February 13, 2013

New chamber president hopes to reach out to everyone

Purchase this image

By Jaime Thomas

The Granville Area Chamber of Commerce appointed a new president last week, and he’s hoping to improve community outreach.

“Creating communication between the community and the chamber of commerce is a great resource for feedback,” Steven Saltis said.

Saltis, who is also the assistant manager at TD Bank in Granville, became a member of the chamber just under two years ago, and has since worked his way up to vice president and then president.

“I was quite honored to be approached as a new member to the community,” Saltis said.

Saltis grew up nearby on a dairy farm in North Poultney and said he has been involved in the community for all of his life. He thinks previous experience with other chambers will help him in his current endeavor.

Brian Roche, an elected chamber director, is confident in Saltis’ abilities in his new role.

“He’s young, he works in the area, he’s from Poultney so he knows the area and I think he’s got some great ideas to get things moving in Granville,” Roche said. “(Former Presidents) Kerri Thomas and Charlie King did an excellent job before, and I think he will too; he’s got ideas to get everyone together in the community.”

Saltis said his biggest goal this year is to create more awareness of what the chamber does.

“We’re here to support area businesses that are members, and we’re always looking for new members,” Saltis said.

The chamber supports these individuals and groups through fundraising efforts, advertising and promotion. He thinks the board will review their current advertising strategies and think ways to create new events that might be as successful as the car show in the fall.

He also wants to make several quick and easy fixes that will make a big difference in communication through social media, such as Facebook, and the chamber’s website.

Additionally, Saltis is hoping to formalize a set, quarterly mixer schedule to allow everyone to mingle and connect. Other initiatives he would like to see would include a business trade show that would allow area entrepreneurs to show what they offer to the community.

Saltis is also glad to be working with what he considers to be a “great group that’s still fresh.”