The membership’s priorities for the coming year are focused on member growth, engagement and retention.

As the new Member Director of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA), I am excited to bring my extensive sales experience to this dynamic organization. With a career dedicated to building and maintaining relationships, understanding customer needs and providing tailored solutions, I am keen to apply these skills to improve the membership experience and grow our network of businesses in the Greater Reading area. Over the years, I have developed a strong understanding of what drives engagement, and I am confident that this experience will contribute to a stronger and more connected business community among GRCA members.

My professional journey in sales has given me a unique perspective on how to develop and maintain long-term business relationships. In previous roles, I successfully led initiatives aimed at both attracting and retaining clients, ensuring that clients not only saw value in their initial investment, but also received ongoing support and growth opportunities. This experience will be critical in my work at GRCA, which aims to not only increase membership, but also create long-term value for each member.

As well as the skills and mindset I have developed professionally, I am also fortunate to have deep roots in the Reading area. I was born in Reading, grew up in Robesonia where my family lived for decades, and now live in Monton with my wife and one-year-old son. This has allowed me to have a personal connection and understanding of the area I work in, as well as the success of the business and the people who live here.

For the coming year, my priorities will be centered around three key areas: membership growth, engagement and retention. First, I am committed to growing our membership base by identifying and reaching out to businesses and organizations that can benefit from the resources and opportunities provided by GRCA. Greater Reading and the surrounding area are home to many businesses of all sizes from a variety of industries, creating an excellent opportunity to not only grow the GRCA’s membership base, but also to diversify it. No business is too big or too small for GRCA, and I look forward to sharing membership information with them that will allow us to help meet their individual needs for success.

Second, member engagement will be critical. I believe that the strength of any organization lies in the active participation of its members. At its core, interaction with participants is about communication. Whether a member is just joining GRCA or has been a member for over 100 years, it is critical that our members understand the resources included in their membership and how to use them. I want to actively ensure that our members are knowledgeable about how they can participate in GRCA events and opportunities without being hesitant about how to get involved. Member engagement is a key component to my ultimate goal of retention.

While growth is important, maintaining strong relationships with our existing members is equally important, which is why retention is my third priority. My goal is to ensure that every member feels valued and supported throughout their membership journey. This will include regularly communicating with members to assess their needs, collecting feedback on our programs and services, facilitating their participation, and continually improving our offerings to ensure they meet the changing needs of the business community.

I am honored to take on the role of GRCA Membership Director. I am confident that by focusing on member growth, engagement and retention, we can not only grow our membership, but also help create a more vibrant and connected business community.