December 27, 2013 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 27 New Chamber Leader Named Decatur Grad Assumes Director Post in related fields. “It’s not my major. I don’t know if STAFF WRITER there is a chamber major,” she said. BERLIN – New Berlin Chamber “But I’ve always organized, coordiof Commerce Executive Director nated, drawn people together, taken Joya Canfield is a Worcester Coun- leadership roles and I’ve been very ty local who hopes to guide the outgoing, just wanting to see people chamber to stronger relationships communicate. And, from growing up here, I want to see this town sucwith the town and the merchants. “It’s great to be able to connect ceed,” she said. Canfield has worked for with Berlin like I was able the Ocean Pines Associato connect with Ocean tion, on the Ocean City Pines growing up,” said Beach Patrol, including Canfield. time spent as a coordinaWhile the chamber has tor for the junior Beach Paa popular reputation with trol, and as an ambassatown businesses, stability dor for her college for four in the director position has years. been a struggle of late. Coinciding with the Canfield plans on stemdrive to increase memberming that and giving the JOYA CANFIELD ship and chamber involvechamber some needed ment with the town, Canfield said stability. “So bringing a director from the that she is also looking forward to chamber back into it, it can really be the planned renovation of the Berlin funneled through one person who is Visitor’s Center. “We want to get this building opdealing with the board members, and making the decisions or the one en and have a flow of people in here person who is going to the town,” and really represent the town at its best as a Visitor’s Center as a Canfield said. The chamber has had a lot of Chamber of Commerce,” she said. Renovations are expected to besuccess in the past, which Canfield hopes to build upon. The recent gin shortly after the New Year and shuffling of leadership has tapped will include more space for town the brakes a little and slowed mo- merchandise and local artwork. mentum, but not to the point where it’s a problem, she added. “Looking forward I would just like to see the chamber grow. It’s been a little stagnant,” said Canfield. “It’s had its ups and downs and I’d like to get it back to the place where it once was and then surpass that.” Work will start from the ground up, with Canfield committed to having a personal interaction with members and potential members. With the support of Mike Day, Berlin’s director of Economic and Community Development, and Megan Houston, the town’s new Main Street coordinator, Canfield has been introducing herself around town in an attempt to give everyone involved with the chamber a face to put with the name and title. “With this position, I love that I can get out in the community, just going out and meeting the different business owners and going around introducing myself,” she said. It’s time consuming but much more effective than sending out a mass email. In her month so far on the job, Canfield has covered about half of downtown. Once all of that area is taken care of, Canfield will expand her rounds to include the outlying businesses that aren’t always included when people picture Berlin. “I think that people do have the misconception that to be either a member of the chamber or even the Main Street Program … you have to be on Main Street,” she said. “You don’t.” Canfield is coming into the position without any prior experience in a chamber leadership position but with a healthy amount of time spent By TRAVIS BROWN RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED CALL 410-524-8202 OR BOOK ONLINE: WWW.OCFRESCOS.COM 82ND ST. & COASTAL HWY., OCEAN CITY OPEN EVERY DAY AT 4 P.M. ✝❘❘❜¤✕✡✒¤✫✡✝✗ FROM THE ENTIRE STAFF OF FRESCO’S & JIVE Join Us For New Year’s Eve 4 p.m.-5:45 p.m. Special Regular Menu Reserves Your Table For 1.5 Hours Only 6 p.m.-7:45 p.m. $65 Per Person Includes 4-Course Meal Reserves Your Table For 2 Hours Only 8 p.m.-10:35 p.m. $95 Per Person Includes 4-Course Meal, Champagne Toast, Party Favors And Live Music With Frank & Trish 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Call For Reservation