About Us
Salisbury Area Chamber
of Commerce
144 East Main Street
Salisbury, MD 21803
Office hours: M-F, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce is very proud to provide our community and visitors to our area this web site full of information on Salisbury, Wicomico County, and Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore.
Our community is the commercial, medical service and entertainment/cultural hub for four Maryland, two Virginia, and one Delaware county, serving over 300,000 people. The presence of the Peninsula Regional Medical Center, an outstanding group of primary, secondary, and higher educational institutions, plus a growing number of high tech companies have balanced our area's agri-business base. This diversity has resulted in a business community that is very open, vibrant, and competitive. You will find services, shopping and cultural opportunities here far exceeding what would be expected in a community our size.
The Chamber of Commerce, as the voice of the business community, has taken the lead in advocating for our region before the local, county and state governments. We also take our commitment to the quality of life within our area very seriously and are involved in roadway beautification, community improvement, and support of public and private educational institutions.
Our community is playing a leading role in sparking the continued economic growth of our region. The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce is growing and developing with our community. We are learning new ways to serve our members and to work closely with the smaller Chambers within our region. We are striving to become the voice of business on Maryland's Lower Shore.
Bradley A. Bellacicco
Executive Director
brad@salisburyarea.com
The
Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce History
The business leaders of Salisbury, Maryland
banded together on March 4, 1920 to form the Chamber from the
Salisbury Business Men's Association. This changed the character of
the organization from the social to proactive support for the
commercial sector. The organization has grown and become very
active in the community.
Some important events in the life
of the Salisbury Area Chamber include:
· The Chamber has earned accreditation from the United States Chamber of Commerce consistently since 1961.
· In 1977, the $72,000 mortgage on the Chamber's 2000 square foot office building at 300 East Main Street was burned after a successful fund raising campaign.
· The Chamber purchased its current home in December 2002 from Bank of America to address the need for a larger facility as the membership grew to over 850 companies. The new Chamber Business Center is over 13,000 square feet and provides three meeting rooms. Several other non-profits have joined the Chamber in the 144 East Main Street facility to make it a hub of business support.
· The Chamber formed the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation in January 2003 as a vehicle to help with beautification, quality of life and workforce development in the region.
· On October 16, 2003, President-Elect Stephanie Willey accepted a United States Department of Labor New Freedom Initiative Award as recognition of their efforts through the Eastern Shore Business Leadership to help the handicapped enter the workforce. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao presented this honor at a luncheon in the Department of Labor’s Great Hall.
· On December 4, 2003, the Center for Corporate Citizenship recognized the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce for it leadership in opening the workforce to persons with disabilities through the Business Leadership Network. “The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce, and all the award winners and nominees, represents the best of a business making a difference in its community,” said Thomas J. Donohue, Chamber President and CEO. “The leadership of the Salisbury Chamber serves as an inspiration for others to follow.” The award was present at Corporate Citizenship Awards Dinner in the International Hall of Flags of the United States Chamber of Commerce on H Street across from the White House in downtown Washington, D.C. Secretary of Commerce Donald L. Evans was the keynote speaker and assisted Thomas J. Donohue, the President of the United States Chamber, in making the presentation. Accepting the award for the Salisbury Chamber was President Gamee Elliott.
· The Eastern Shore Business Leadership Network earned the United States BLN’s Chapter of the Year Award on November 7, 2003. The ESBLN, a Salisbury Area Chamber Sub-committee, was honored for its demonstrated growth in services and support to people with disabilities, innovative best practices, and an exceptional impact on employers during the year. This presentation was made to ESBLN Executive Director Jack Smith at the national BLN Conference in San Francisco, California.
The Chamber of Commerce Staff
The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce professional staff implements the decisions and programs of the Officers and Board of Directors.
| Bradley A. Bellacicco | Executive
Director brad@salisburyarea.com |
| Donna Griffith | Director of
Finance donnag@salisburyarea.com |
| Shannon Mitchell | Director of Events chamber@salisburyarea.com |
| Catherine R. Thorsten/Tiffanie Chandler | Directors of
Membership membership@salisburyarea.com |
| Cindy Feist | Director of Media and
Public Relations sacc@salisburyarea.com |
| Jackie Gast | Eastern Shore Business
Leadership Network jackie@esbln.org |