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Valley Chamber Seeks New Head
Departure of longtime director LaFreniere leaves leadership void
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Business New Haven
1/24/2000
By: BNH
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Jodi Ann LaFreniere (née Hinman) who, at age 23 became the youngest chamber of commerce executive in the nation when she was appointed in 1994 to head the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, bade farewell to the post - and Connecticut - on January 21.
In addition to being the youngest executive director nationally, LaFreniere was also the first woman to head the Valley organization.
LaFreniere's husband, Lowell LaFreniere, accepted a position in the health care field in Raleigh, N.C. Jodi Ann LaFreniere resigned in order to move there with him.
“I don't have a job yet, but I'd like to stay in the same field, either with another chamber or in an economic-development position of some kind,” LaFreniere says.
Regarding her seven years with the Valley Chamber, “It's been a wonderful experience,” she says.
“I've enjoyed every minute of it,” she adds, “and the challenges we've faced.”
When she was hired, the GVCC had about 450 members. Today it has some 750 member businesses in Shelton, Derby, Ansonia, Seymour, Oxford and Beacon Falls, according to LaFreniere.
LaFreniere is a life-long Valley resident who graduated from Shelton High School and Fairfield University with a degree in psychology.
In 1992, she joined the GVCC as its membership director and, following a nationwide search, she was tapped for the top post in 1994.
She played key leadership roles in other Valley organizations, including Healthy Valley 2000, the Alliance for Economic Growth and the All-America Cities Committee.
During her tenure, the GVCC also developed a Web site and helped to increase economic development efforts throughout the Valley.
LaFreniere says a search committee established to review candidates to replace her received more than 45 résumés.
“The committee will interview candidates and make a recommendation to the full board,” LaFreniere says. “They're looking to have a candidate selected by February 18, and on board by the end of March.”
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