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Canfield named new Berlin Chamber executive director

BERLIN—The Berlin Chamber of Commerce has chosen Joya Canfield as its new part-time executive director. Her first introduction to the business community was during a Nov. 21 after hours event.
Canfield is a Berlin native who previously made a name for herself as an excellent cross-country and track athlete when she was a student at Stephen Decatur High School, from which she graduated in 2006. She has since earned a bachelor’s degree in biology, with a minor in marketing, from High Point University, in North Carolina.
She previously worked as an event coordinator with managerial and public affairs responsibilities, for Aerosports Trampoline Parks, in Delmar.
During a Nov. 20 interview, Canfield said she decided to pursue the position because she wanted to renew her connection with Berlin. “There was really no other reason that I left [Delmar] other than coming back to the Berlin area,” she said.
Canfield will be overseeing the daily operations of the Chamber’s South Main Street headquarters and implementing the direction, policies, procedures, and objectives of the board of directors. The purpose of the chamber is to positively promote the Berlin business community overall and to sponsor chamber events throughout the year.
Chamber President Steve Barrett, of Barrett Chevrolet, described Canfield as a “very energetic” person with “a lot of good ideas.” He said the chamber is currently planning to sponsor new seminars for small business in the upcoming year.
Barrett said his one-year term will end in January. President-Elect Tom Sholtis, of Ocean 98.1FM will be inducted as the new president for 2014, Barrett said.
The chamber describes itself as a “networking center and first stop for new businesses, residents and tourists.” According to its description, it offers affordable advertising opportunities to its members, most of whom are small local businesses, including a listing in the chamber’ annual Member Business Directory. “The Chamber will actively promote your business by providing assistance with events such as Ribbon Cuttings, Grand Openings, Receptions and help with press/media releases,” the organization stated on its Web site.  
It also said it offers several networking opportunities throughout the year, with its Business After Hours events every third Thursday of the month and four Business Breakfast Hour events a year.
Each year it sponsors the annual Spring Celebration, Jazz and Blues Bash, Cruisers weekends, Bathtub Races, Fiddler’s Convention, Octoberfest, Victorian Christmas, Christmas Parade and New Year’s Eve Celebration, along Berlin’s downtown Main Street retail corridor.
The Berlin Chamber of Commerce is located at 14 South Main Street. Its hours of operation are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. For additional information call 410-641-4775, or e-mail Joya at joya@berlinchamber.org.