Press Releases
Chamber Celebrates 30 Years
- Saturday, January 30, 2010
The Sussex County Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 30th anniversary with a dinner dance on Saturday, January 30 at Perona Farms in Andover.
Attending the celebration and recognized for their service during the past three decades were past Chamber chairpersons William Curcio (1980-82); William Faust (1983-84); Mary “Joan” Riccardi (1988); Richard Clark (1989); Christopher Lynch (1990); Ronald Dolfi (1992); William Connor (1993); Raymond Cordts (1994); Cooper Morris (1995); Robert E. McCracken (1997); Mark Avondoglio (2000); Glenn Lewis (2002); Tammy Case (2003); Tony Torre (2004); Elenora L. Benz (2005); and Thomas Madsen (2009-2010).
“This anniversary event was a true celebration of the people who made the Chamber the vibrant, thriving organization it is today and of those who continue to lead it forward into an exciting future,” said Tammie Horsfield, Chamber President. “Our ongoing success is the result of their dedication and commitment.”
From humble beginnings as a tourism association, the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce has become a dynamic force in the area with a membership base close to 700 strong. “The Chamber’s growth trajectory is a tale of persistence, patience and responsiveness to the needs of the area’s growing business community,” explains Horsfield.
These needs have included the creation of a host of networking events including the Chamber’s popular monthly Business-to-Business Breakfast. The Chamber also holds two annual Business Expos and the community-oriented Champion of the Grill festival at the Sussex County Fairgrounds. Over the years, the organization has often taken the lead in clarifying the impact of state legislation on area businesses beginning with its opposition in the 1990’s to the New Jersey Development & Redevelopment Plan and the Highlands Study. The acceptance in 2005 of the Sussex County Strategic Growth Plan by the State of New Jersey, a plan created with substantial input from the Chamber, was considered a victory after an arduous battle. Long a proponent of economic growth and its promise of higher living standards and greater prosperity for individuals, the Sussex County Chamber was instrumental in the formation of the Sussex County Economic Development Partnership in 1997.
True to its tourism roots, the Chamber also remains the lead organization in the county for promoting available tourism opportunities. In the last decade the Chamber established the first permanent Visitor Center in Olde Lafayette Village, branded the area with the “Sussex Skylands” moniker, garnered a Tourism Award for Excellence in Tourism from the New Jersey Division of Travel & Tourism and landed over $100,000.00 in tourism grant funding to promote the region.
Photo
Past chairpersons attending, from the left are Ray Cordts, 1994; Tony Torre, 2004; Robert McCracken, 1997; Thomas Madsen, 2009-10; Richard Clark, 1989; Eleanora Benz 2005; Cooper Morris, 1995; Tammy Case, 2003; Tammie Horsfield, president; William Faust, 1983-84; Mary "Joan" Riccardi 1988; William Curcio, 1980-82; Ronald Dolfi, 1992, Christopher Lynch, 1990; Mark Avondoglio, 2000 and Glenn Lewis, 2002.
| Date | Title | Details |
| 1/30/2010 | Chamber Celebrates 30 Years |  |
| 1/24/2009 | Chamber Introduces New Chairman of the Board | |
| 1/31/2008 | Tammie Horsfield Awarded Garden State Woman of the Year Communication Award | |
| 11/15/2007 | Sussex County Chamber Installs 2008 Board Chair | |
