The Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce (GNCC) welcomed five new Board members at its first meeting of 2024. Together, they bring a wealth of diverse experience as entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and business managers to the GNCC.
“It’s a great privilege to work with this group of dedicated investors in the GNCC. They bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise with them to their new roles on our Board, and I look forward to their continued engagement and contributions,” said Vince Jackson, Executive Director of the GNCC.
“We are pleased and excited to welcome our new board members and have them join in our work to promote a thriving economy and community,” said Meghan McCormick, GNCC Board President. “I am confident that their distinct skills and diverse backgrounds will serve the GNCC and our community well,” McCormick continued.
The new Board members are Jamie Cocco, Caroline Gear, Taylor Robbins, Elena Sharnoff, and Cigdem Turkomer.
Jamie Cocco is a resident of South Deerfield and owner of Empowered Digital Marketing and Empowered Social Media. In addition to his role on the Board, he serves on the GNCC’s Executive Committee, and is Chair of the Ambassador Committee. Jamie holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He brings an extensive marketing background to the GNCC, along with strong interests in building community and business development.
Caroline Gear, of West Whately, is the Executive Director of the International Language Institute of Massachusetts, located in Northampton. She earned an MA in Spanish Literature from Michigan State University. As executive director of a non-profit organization, Caroline brings a rich experience in working with a board, budgets, fundraising, and more to her work with the GNCC. A tireless advocate for Northampton, she has worked with the Hampshire County Regional Tourism Council to introduce the town and region to international visitors and drive diversity into our communities.
Taylor Robbins, of Holyoke, is a Business Relationship Manager at UMassFive College Federal Credit Union. With a focus on Commercial Lending and Cash Management, she uses her experience in the field to offer individualized advice for business owners – making commercial banking a more personal and accessible experience. Building upon a background in for-profit banking, Taylor has found her alignment in the not-for-profit Credit Union space, where for the last 5 years she has helped champion the importance of investing in community. A Hadley native, Taylor grew up working on a corn farm and for a local business owner – today, her goals are tightly woven within, and committed to, the communities that make up our Pioneer Valley.
Elena Sharnoff, who lives in Northampton, is the owner of B Strategic Communications, and brings over 25 years of experience in strategic communications and marketing, branding, and messaging to her role at the GNCC. Elena loves helping businesses and non-profits showcase stories and connect with audiences through well-crafted websites and strategic messaging that leverage her technical knowledge and communications expertise. She draws on a combination of visual impact, organizational strategy, and inspired wordsmithing to capture and showcase the vital elements that make each business special. Elena has served on GNCC’s Ambassador Committee for several years.
Cigdem Turkomer grew up in Istanbul and has spent over 25 years creating set designs for commercial and documentary films. After studying for several years at San Francisco State University, Cigdem moved back to Northampton, where she had spent some time during her college years, to open her dream store in a city that had captured her heart. LeBonNton, located on the second floor of Thornes Marketplace, supports women artists and business owners from the United States and around the world.