On May 30, 2018

Okemo Chamber’s CEO Marji Graf steps down, moves to Md.

By Katy Savage

While many celebrated Memorial Day weekend with barbecues and plant sales, Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO Marji Graf flew to Maryland to meet her new employers.

Graf resigned from her role in Vermont to take a position as president and CEO of the Rockville, Maryland, Chamber of Commerce, a position she starts on July 2.

“It all happened in the last two weeks,” said Graf.

Graf had never been to Rockville before this past weekend. She saw the position advertised in a quarterly email that goes to chambers across the nation and submitted an application.

“They hired me on Facetime,” she said.

Graf visited her new city during the annual Hometown Holidays Music Festival, which about 50,000 people attend every year. The festival includes more than 30 live performances as well as Taste of Rockville for area restaurants to highlight their menus. Graf will be in charge of running the Taste of Rockville portion of the event next year.

“I’m really, really happy,” said Graf as she spoke from her hotel room in Maryland on Saturday before flying back to Vermont on Sunday. “There are so many opportunities here and nobody’s telling their story. I think that will be my strength.”

The position in Maryland will be different from Graf’s job in Vermont. The city of Rockville has a population of 67,000. Unlike her current job, Graf won’t be in charge of tourism or visitors. Instead, she’ll be running the chamber for the city.

“The scary thing for me is that now I have to sell my house,” said Graf.

Graf, who lives in Mount Holly, spent the past couple weeks saying goodbye and resigning from other roles. Graf was president of Vermont Association of Commerce Executives and she is past president of New England Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

“I’ve been here 10 years and I’ve been really invested in Vermont,” Graf said.

The Okemo Chamber includes 14 towns surrounding Ludlow. In her tenure, Graf grew the membership from about 200 when she started to about 425 members currently. Graf also helped launch the website, yourplaceinvermont.com.

“It’s not going to be the same without her,” said Sue Chadwick, director of member services at the Okemo Chamber. Chadwick and Graf were the only two employees at the Chamber.

“I think all of us were totally in shock just because she’s always been there,” Chadwick said.

Graf will be in Vermont for the next five weeks to help train the next yet-to-be-named CEO. A planner, she has already mapped out marketing and events for the year ahead. “The place won’t miss a beat,” she said.

Graf’s departure comes when new Chamber board members were elected. Echo Lake Inn owner Tom Gianola will be the incoming president, Terry Bane from Imery’s will be the vice president, Kevin Theissen from Skygate Financial Services will be the treasurer and Gail Graves-Beardmore will be the secretary.

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Dream Maker Bakers will close Dec. 22

December 11, 2024
By Polly Mikula Megan Wagner, owner of Dream Maker Bakers, announced Saturday Dec. 7, that she will be closing her bakery in Killington.  “With a mix of emotions, I’m announcing that Dream Maker Bakers will be permanently closing on December 22, 2024,” she posted on Facebook. “This is something that I have known I wanted…

Long-time Killington clerk is retiring

December 11, 2024
By Curt Peterson No one will ever call Lucrecia Wonsor a “nine-to-fiver.” The veteran Killington clerk (20 years, 4 months) and treasurer (11 years, 10 months) is known for her dedication to her responsibilities, working long hours and some weekends to successfully manage the official and financial affairs of this resort town of about 1,500…

Meet John Neal: Master of a versatile, enjoyable career

December 11, 2024
By Karen D. Lorentz When someone has worked their entire adult life in as many different ski-industry positions as John Neal, it’s not too surprising to hear him say, “The people and the passion for the sport and lifestyle have given me the opportunity to have a career I enjoy.”  Neal grew up in Ludlow,…

Parents complaints about gender curriculum in kindergarten spark concerns from local advocacy groups about censorship

December 11, 2024
By John Flowers/Addison Independent and Mountain Times staff The leadership of the Rutland Area NAACP raised concern over recent developments in neighboring Addison County related to the actions of two Mary Hogan Elementary School parents/guardians who have challenged gender-related instructional materials to educate kindergarten students at the Middlebury school. According to sources, the complaints relate…