Duneland Chamber Selects New Leader
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Duneland Chamber of Commerce has named Maura Durham president. She currently serves as the Chesterton-based organization's membership marketing coordinator and will take the helm next week. March 24, 2014
News Release
CHESTERTON, Ind. – The Duneland Chamber of Commerce will welcome a new President on March 31. Maura Durham, current Membership Marketing Coordinator for the community-building organization, will assume the Chamber's leadership role – an announcement that was made today by Scott Mundell, Duneland Chamber of Commerce Board Chair.
“The Board was very impressed with Maura's enthusiasm for the mission of the Chamber,” said Mundell. “The Search Committee met with highly qualified candidates, and the Board is very confident in Maura's ability to lead this organization.”
Current Chamber President Heather Ennis recently accepted the offer to become President and CEO of the Northwest Indiana Forum, leaving a vacancy in the Chamber's top position.
“I've been consistently impressed with Maura's ability to lead – both from within the Chamber and outside of it,” said Ennis. “She has wonderful relationships with the staff and our members, and I’m looking forward to watching how the Chamber grows and develops during her Presidency.”
Prior to her tenure at the Chamber, Durham enjoyed a career in brand development, strategic planning, marketing and sales with Newcomb Solutions and The Times Media Company.
“It’s an honor to be chosen to lead the Duneland Chamber of Commerce,” said Durham. “I have such respect and admiration for the work that Heather accomplished during her time as President. I'm honored and excited to continue the Chamber’s good work in providing value to our membership and strengthening the communities we serve in Beverly Shores, Burns Harbor, Chesterton, Dune Acres and Porter.”
With 459 members including Fortune 500 companies, start-up ventures, tenured independent businesses and non-profit organizations, the Duneland Chamber of Commerce is entrusted with providing networking opportunities, advertising and marketing tools, and economic development vehicles for a dynamic constituency.
“Currently, our Chamber offers over 100 networking and community building events each year,” said Durham, “as well as a quarterly magazine, an annual directory, electronic billboard advertising, vibrant e-communications, and a robust online membership directory complete with member discounts, videos and job postings. We also enjoy an exuberant social media presence for both the Chamber and Chesterton’s European Market, and in a few weeks we’ll be rolling out an App that will help locals and visitors explore all that the Duneland communities have to offer while participating in Shop Local and photography contests.”
Durham's goal for the first 18 months of her Presidency is to discover even more avenues for the Chamber's members to do business with each other, with residents, and with visitors to the area. “I want our members to get to know one another, do business with each other, and grow together,” said Durham. “The Duneland community is a special place filled with hardworking, innovative, compassionate people. For me, coming back to work at the Chamber and returning to the Duneland community felt like coming home.”
Durham will continue to represent the Duneland Chamber as a member of the Porter County Economic Development Alliance, the Northwest Indiana Forum Economic Development Committee, Duneland Economic Development Committee, and the Chesterton-Porter Rotary Club.
Tweet: Join us in welcoming new @DunelandChamb8r President Maura Durham! Share the good news!
Background: The Duneland Chamber is a catalyst organization ensuring the Duneland area is a vibrant place to live, work and play through responsible commercial growth and providing a unified voice for its member community. At the core, our chamber is committed to the advancement of its member business interests as well as the total Duneland Community.
Source: The Duneland Chamber