At their annual meeting held Thursday, February 20, 2014, the members of Downtown Chestertown Association unanimously elected new members of the Executive Committee, who will serve until February, 2016. The elected officers are:
Kristen Owen, President
Kristen Owen is a loan officer at Chesapeake Bank & Trust Company, where she has been employed since 2005 after graduating from McDaniel College. A native of the Chestertown area, she began working in Downtown Chestertown at age 16 when she received her first part-time job at The Finishing Touch. Kristen is happy to be living and working in Kent County, and is dedicated to promoting local businesses and all the community has to offer.
Barbara Jorgenson, Vice President
Barbara Jorgenson is an attorney, now practicing primarily from Chestertown since moving here full time in 2009. She has been DCA’s pro bono legal counsel since 2010. She has been instrumental in assisting the Historical Society of Kent County in the creation and operation of The Little Shop on the Corner in the Bordley History Center, keeping that vital downtown corner active and alive.
Robert Ortiz, Vice President
Bob Ortiz has owned a business in downtown Chestertown for 17 years where he lives with his family. In addition to designing and making fine furniture, he and his business are dedicated to supporting the arts and cultural diversity in the community.
Kathryn Bursick, Secretary
Kathryn Bursick is the Managing Director and chief administrative officer of the Garfield Center for the Arts at the historic Prince Theatre in downtown Chestertown. A resident of Kent County since 2007, she most recently served as the Assistant Director of the Rose O’Neill Literary House at Washington College and the Assistant Editor of the Literary House Press. She was a founder of the Chestertown Book Festival and served as its board president in 2009 and 2010.
Robert Ramsey, Treasurer
Bob Ramsey opened The Finishing Touch, a retail business located in downtown Chestertown, a year after graduating from University of Delaware in 1977. In that time he has served on the Board of the Kent County Chamber of Commerce for two terms and been a member of the Downtown Chestertown Association for 34 years, serving as its president 3 times. He lives in Queen Anne’s County on the upper Chester River.
Nancy McGuire, outgoing President of DCA, remarked, “We are quite proud of our new Executive Committee. I will rejoice in DCA’s new found opportunities and accomplishments under the new stewardship.” McGuire will act as ex officio member of the Executive Committee for the next two years, as well as chair the Membership Committee and serve on the Curb Appeal Committee.
The members of Downtown Chestertown Association extend their gratitude to Nancy McGuire for the work she has done as leader of the organization for the last four years. “Nancy’s passion for Chestertown and its business community is unrivaled,” said Kristen Owen. “We are fortunate to have her guidance and perspective as we work to improve and promote Downtown Chestertown.”
Downtown Chestertown Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting businesses and professional services in Chestertown through activities that encourage residents and tourists to visit and shop locally. For more information, contact Kristen Owen at [email protected] or 410-778-1600. Visit Downtown Chestertown Association on the web at downtownchestertown.com and facebook.com/downtownchestertown.
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