NEWMEMBER GUIDE
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR
OnbehalfoftheNewportChamberofCommerce,itismypleasuretowelcome youandyourorganizationtotheChamberfamily.Yourdecisiontojointhe Chamberclearlydemonstratesyourcommitmenttothegrowthandprosperityof ourlocalcommunity.
WeattheChamberbelievethattogetherwecanachievegreatthings.Byjoining us,you’veopeneddoorstoanetworkofindividualspassionateaboutthe community,businessesandresources.EachChambermemberplaysapivotal roleinshapingtheeconomiclandscapeofourregion.Asanewmemberyouare nowapartofadvancingourlocaleconomyaswell.
TheNewportChamberofCommerceisdedicatedtoprovidingsupportand opportunitiestohelpeachmemberthriveintoday’sdynamicmarket.Throughour diverserangeofevents,networkingopportunities,educationalworkshops,and advocacyinitiatives,weaimtofacilitateconnections,shareknowledgeand advocateforcollectivememberinterests.
Wehaveagreatlineupofeventsandprogramsplannedforthecomingyear.I encourageyoutoexploreourwebsite,attendourevents,andreachouttoour dedicatedteamforanyassistanceorinformationyoumayrequire.Pleaseknow thatyourinputandinvolvementareinvaluableasweworktowardaprosperous future.
Onceagain,welcometotheGreaterNewportChamberofCommercefamily,and thankyouforjoining.Weareexcitedtoembarkonthisjourneywithyouandlook forwardtoforginglonglastingconnectionsandachievinggreatmilestones together.
RichardCromwell MaritimeSolutions BoardChair
GreaterNewportChamberofCommerce
2026 Board of Directors
KimCairo,Carey,Richmond&VikingInsurance
BillCardinal,IHOP/CardinalRestaurantGroup
LauraCoristine,COX
RichardCromwell,MaritimeSolutions*BoardChair
VictoriaCimino,DiscoverNewport
MorganEverson,TheHaven
MikeFalcone,FalconeSports&Entertainment
FrankFlanagan,Esq.,FlanaganLawOffices,LLC.
MicheleGallagher,City-by-the-SeaCommunications
MattGirard,3GBroadcasting
BethJohnson,CliftonLarsonAllen,LLP
MaxwellKhalfayan,SavantWealthManagement
SandyKristiansson,BlackDiamondMarketingGroup
JeanneLapak,BankNewport
MaryJoyLu,RailExplorers
GeoffreyManchester,VATNSystems
LelandMerrill,CentrevilleBank*Treasurer
MichaelMonti,Esq.,Sayer,Regan&Thayer,LLC.*LegalCounsel
JosephNicholson,Bowen’sWharfCo.*Secretary
CristinaOffenberg,WashingtonTrust
JohnO’Connor,TPGMarinas
BrendanO’Donnell,NewportCraftBrewing&DistillingCo.
KevinO’Leary,PreservationSocietyofNewportCounty
LisaRaiola,Hope&Main
JairoRugel,NewportCountyComputers
CraigSculos,Bally’sCorporation*
BrianSchuster,RIEnergy
AndrewTavares,Kahn,Litwin,Renza,&Co.Ltd. *BoardChairexofficio
RobinTosto,HotelViking
MelissaVarao,SalveReginaUniversity*ViceChair
MatthewVargas,RumfordPortfolioManagement*
BrookeVergona,NewportInternationalBoatShow
BrianWilliams,RogerWilliamsUniversity
RichardWillis,Caleb&Broad
Networking Opportunities
Networking Coffee Hours
First Tuesday of the Month
8-9 a.m. at Innovate Newport
Special off-site venue host once per quarter
10 months per year (excluding July, August)
Free to attend
Business During Hours
Third Thursday of the Month
12-1pm at Innovate Newport
Free for Members, $10 Non-Members
Includes Lunch
Business After Hours
2026 Dates:
February 26 at Save The Bay’s Hamilton Family Aquarium
March 26 at Saltwater Restaurant
May 28 at BankNewport Middletown
June 25 at The Helmway at The Pell Hotel
September 24 at The Young Building at Salve Regina University
October tbd
$5 Chamber Members, $10 Non -Members
Includes hors d’oeuvres and either cash or open bar
2026 Member Exchange Dates
***New schedule: First Thursday, monthly
Please read carefully:
All ads, press releases and business announcements will be due the previous Friday by noon, in the form of a one page (8.5x11) attachment as a JPG, PNG, or PDF.
Participants must be Chamber members and submit content to: MemberExchange@NewportChamber.com.
Limit:2submissionsperissue.
For additional details about the requirements, visit NewportChamber.com. For more information, email Kate@NewportChamber.com.
EVENTS & PROGRAMS
Annual Events
January: Annual Meeting
April: Business EXPO
April: Excellence in Business Awards
June: Women in Business Luncheon
September: Golf Tournament
September: Innovation Crawl
October: Annua; Business Walk
October: Annual Career Fair
December: Holiday Dinner & Auction
Event Series
Tech Talks
Economic Insights
Emerging Leaders
Industry Spotlights
Politics & Pancakes
Women in Business
Women of Distinction
Networking Events
Networking Coffee Hours
Business During Hours
Business After Hours
Coffee with the Candidate
in
MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES
Networking Events
Visit NewportChamber.com for a full schedule of events and networking opportunities including mornnig, midday and evening events.
Podcast Interviews
Email Kate@NewportChamber.com to be featured on The Business of Greater Newport- our weekly podcast which airs on WADK1540 AM every Thursday at 10a.m. A free interview every year!
Ribbon Cuttings
Let's officially recognize your grand opening, new location, or other milestone worth celebrating. We bring the camera, ribbon and scissors at no cost to you.
Member Directory
Place an ad in membership directory which is printed annually.
Member Exchange
The Member Exchange is a monthly exchange between members (3k+ emails) in the form of a digital flipbook.
To utilize this free advertising opportunity, email MemberExchange@newportchamber. com your ads, press release, or any announcements in the form of a onepage (8.5x11in.) PDF attachment.
Digital Advertising
Banner ads, sponsored emails, and more.
Social Media
Tag the Chamber's Instagram account for a complimentary share via Facebook and Instagram story!
Job Bank
Email Sarah@newportchamber.com for more details on how your job opportunities can be shared at no cost on our website and in ecommunications.
GREATER NEWPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Coordinate date & time
Advertise on Facebook, Instagram, and Chamber website calendar
RIBBON CUTTINGS!
Invite city/town officials
Invite Chamber Ambassadors
Invite family, friends, neighbor businesses, customers
Inform Chamber of any promotions, samples, refreshments, etc.
RibbonCuttingsareafantasticwaytopromoteyournewbusiness,newlocation,or othermomentousoccasion.Somebusinessesmakeitapartyandinvitealarge numberofguests.Otherskeepitsmallandtakeadvantageofthephotoopasaway toadvertisethattheyareopen–itisuptoyou!
Provide ceremonial scissors & ribbon
Take RSVPs if necessary
Be ready for your photo op!
Letusknowyourgoalsandwewillhelpspreadtheword.
RibbonCuttingrequestsmustbemadeatleast2weeksinadvancetoensuretimeto producemarketingflyerandpromote.
Share photos on social media in the days to follow.
CHAMBER
JOB BANK
Goto:
NewportChamber.com
LoginasaMember(Ifyouneed helploggingin,email Sarah@NewportChamber.com tosetupyourprofile.)
GotoJobPostings
AddJobPosting Completetheapplication information RemembertofillinStart& End Dates Submit
Takeadvantageofthis digitalmarketing opportunityincluded withyourChamber membershipto promotetheavailable positionsatyour business.
EnabledbytheSECUREActin2020,theChamberisnowabletocreate pooledemployerplans(PEPs),whichexpandsaccesstoretirementplans forallworkersbyallowingemployersfromunrelatedindustriestojoinone retirementplan.
Benefitstotheadopting employersinclude:
•Increasedadministrative efficiencies
•Reducedfiduciaryrisk
•Potentialcostsavings
•Comprehensiveend-to-end FinancialWellnessprogramfor alladoptingemployers
TheChamberprovidescomprehensive programoversightincluding:
Overthelastseveralyears,ourgrouphasexchangedover$12,000,000ofclosed businessamongstmembers.Thereisalimitonthenumberofpeopleinagiven categoryofbusiness(2).Ifyouareinterestedinfindingoutmoreaboutour organizationandthepositionsthatareavailable,weinviteyoutoattendameeting!
Become a Sponsor!
Your Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce Sponsorship is an Investment in the Economic Vitality and Quality of Life of the Broader Newport Region.
Whether you are looking to gain exposure in the region, build relationships with other successful business leaders or simply become more active in the Chamber, the Corporate Partnership opportunity will help you to achieve your goals. The sponsorship investment you make will ensure the continued success of Chamber programs and services that have greatly increased the quality of business and living in the Greater Newport region.
Formoreinformationabouttherightsponsorshippackageforyou,includingtieredlevel aswellaseventseries,pleaseemailErin@newportchamber.com
Photo by Corey Favino
Staff & Partners
Erin Donovan - Boyle President & CEO Erin@newportchamber.com
Kate Grotteberg
Director of Communications, Marketing & Events Kate@newportchamber.com
Sarah Burke
Emerging Business Navigator
Sarah@newportchamber.com
Anne Marie Herndon Bookkeeper
Bookkeeping@newportchamber.com
Kevin Buck
Facilities Manager, Innovate Newport Facilities@innovatenewport.org
Paul Harden
Caroline Humphrey Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Caroline@newportchamber.com
Jo-Anne Gorton
Administrative Coordinator
Joanne@newportchamber.com
Lori Burke
Membership Sales Associate
Lori@newportchamber.com
Olya Myers
Innovate Newport Community Manager Olya@newportchamber.com
R.I. Small Business Development Center Director, Greater Newport Region pharden@uri.edu
Newport
Commerce