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Sharlan Douglas Named President of Dearborn Chamber of Commerce DEARBORN, Mich. (Feb. 12, 2002)-- Sharlan Douglas has been named president of the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce. She will assume leadership of the 600-member Chamber on March 4, 2002. Douglas comes to the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce from the Eight Mile Boulevard Association, where she served as executive director since 1993. Douglas was responsible for establishing the consortium of governments and businesses that was created to revitalize and promote a 27-mile urban corridor through the heart of metropolitan Detroit. During her leadership, the association secured a $3.4 million federal grant to improve bus stops in the Eight Mile corridor and raised $350,000 for gardens and signage along the Eight Mile median. "Douglas brings extensive experience in economic development, fundraising, marketing and association management," noted Joseph Murgalo, board chairperson of the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce. Douglas’ selection followed an intensive interview process by the chamber’s Board members with the assistance of a professional search firm. Murgalo added, "We are confident that the president we have selected will tap into the tremendous potential for growth at the chamber, while building partnerships with the business community, governments and other organizations. The directors were impressed with her extensive experience in grant writing, small business incubation and managing not-for-profit organizations." Douglas’ previously worked as vice president of marketing and development for the Michigan Center for High Technology, a not-for-profit incubator for technology-based companies. She was also an account supervisor for PR Associates, Inc., a Detroit public relations counseling firm, with clients in Michigan’s travel and tourism industry. Douglas earned a BA in Journalism from Michigan State University and has completed course work for a Masters in Urban Planning from Wayne State University. She also received the Practitioners Training Certification from the Michigan Economic Developers Association. Douglas is a past president of the Royal Oak Rotary Club and includes golf, gardening and theater among her interests. She is currently a resident of Royal Oak. Douglas succeeds Richard O’Neill, the Dearborn Chamber’s executive vice president, who is retiring after more than 14 years of leadership. The mission of the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce is to provide leadership by developing a unified voice for member businesses through promotion, assistance and the development of partnerships. For more information about the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce, call (313) 584-6100 or visit online at www.dearbornchamber.org.
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Media Contacts: Joseph Murgalo Hyatt Regency
Dearborn Margaret Knes, APR Margaux & Associates, LLC (313) 336-8774 |