Politics & Government
Dedham Officials Win NVCC Persons of the Year Award
Town Administrator William Keegan and Economic Development director Karen O'Connell were honored by the local chamber of commerce.
The Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce held their 118th Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner on January 19 at Showcase Live-Patriot Place to honor 2011’s outstanding Members and retiring Board Members.
One of those outstanding members was the NVCC’s Business Persons of the Year, Karen O’Connell and William Keegan from the Town of Dedham presented by NVCC President, Tom O’Rourke.
The Town of Dedham created the Economic Development Department in 2007 as part of an overall effort to proactively manage local growth rather than being limited to the position of merely reacting to proposals brought to the Town. A key component of this approach was to create a more business-friendly atmosphere and to engage the business community more directly. Town Administrator Bill Keegan saw this vision clearly and recognized the importance of economic development to the future of the community across a broad spectrum, and he hired Karen O’Connell, to be the first Economic Development director for Dedham.
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Some of the successes and initiatives that followed include the adoption of priority development sites and a $60,000 implementation grant to purchase permit tracking software, a top five statewide Commonwealth Capital score reflecting the promotion of smart growth and sustainable development principles and competitively positioning Dedham for state funding awards, writing and winning a to re-invest in historic Dedham Square, state recognition as a Green Community, the Kenneth Pickard Memorial Innovation Award from the Mass Municipal Association and in 2011 being named as a national finalist and only community from New England for the from the National Civic League.
“Today, Bill and Karen are working with the Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce as part of the regional economic development working group to explore new marketing and branding efforts to broaden our regional appeal and attract more companies and jobs to our area as well as launching a Dedham marketing campaign. Continuing to explore and create new partnerships with the business community as a way to do business in Dedham is a hallmark of their combined approach.” Tom O’Rourke, president and CEO of the Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce.
