New Canaan Chamber of Commerce Adds Eight Directors

The New Canaan Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the addition of eight new members to its Board of Directors as well the creation of a new, dedicated board composed of past chamber presidents that will help oversee the organization’s charitable foundation. Nimble, engaged and innovative, the new chamber directors form an exciting group of business and organization leaders in town, according to Tucker Murphy, executive director of the chamber. “Our mission is ‘connecting community with commerce,’ and we kept those four words very much top of mind in putting together this board,” Murphy said. “Our new directors not only represent successful local businesses stories—they’re also deeply involved in our town. Beyond participating in chamber events such as the Sidewalk Sales, Holiday Stroll and Taste of the Town, they actively fundraise for community agencies, volunteer with service organizations and connect with each other for their mutual benefit.”

The newly appointed directors each have started serving a 3-year term, and they are:

David E. Hoyle Esq.—Hawthorne, Ackerly & Dorrance
Lisa Oldham—New Canaan Library
Mamoune Tazi—Le Boudoir
Anna Simons—New Canaan Pediatric Dentistry
Michael Dinan—NewCanaanite.com
Ben & Elaine Young—New Canaan Dance Academy
Sara Koch—Oxygen Fitness
Kinsey Ferguson—Vineyard Vines

Helping to acclimate them are three current directors who now form a new executive committee for the chamber: Steve Risbridger of Reynolds & Rowella is president, Tom Stadler of the Town of New Canaan First Selectman’s Office is treasurer and HamletHub’s Rachel Lampen is secretary.

Letter: LiveGirl, A Story About Kindness and Community

Dear Editor:

I want to share a story about kindness and community. Topics that, too often, go unmentioned. One year ago, LiveGirl was just a seed of an idea for a one-week summer camp that would make a small difference. It has since grown into an organization that provides year-round programming, making a big difference, for over 100 middle school girls across Fairfield County. Our focus is on leadership, empowerment and diversity so that the young girls of our community are more confident and better prepared for the future.

Announcements: Locals Make Associate Attorney, Partner at New Canaan’s Oldest Law Firm

In celebration of its 90th year, the members of Hawthorne, Ackerly & Dorrance, LLC, the oldest law firm based in New Canaan, announce two major personnel changes. David Hoyle, who has been practicing law with the firm for the past seven years as an associate attorney, has been made a member. Hoyle has just been added to the 2015 Connecticut and New England Super Lawyers lists as a “Rising Star” in the area of probate and estates, a distinction awarded to no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in Connecticut. Attorney Hoyle earned his J.D. and LLM in Estate Planning and Elder Law from the Western New England School of Law in Springfield, Mass. and received his undergraduate degree from Trinity College.