New Canaan Names Members Of Tourism/Economic Development Group

NEW CANAAN, CT — The 16-members of the town's new Tourism and Economic Development Advisory Committee have been announced, and the group will hold its first official meeting in New Canaan Town Hall at 7 p.m. on Jan. 31.

"It's a very interesting group of folks," First Selectman Kevin Moynihan told Patch Thursday, adding that after the group's first meeting it will meet on the fourth Thursday of every month.

The committee's mission "will be to study and analyze New Canaan’s local economy and tourism businesses and to advise the Town regarding measures it might undertake to promote and develop those interests," according to Moynihan. In the first year, the committee will be facilitated by the National Executive Service Corps.

All of the 16 members of the new committee have ties to New Canaan as residents, business owners or other local officials "in capacities related to the local tourism industry or the Downtown commercial district."

The members are:

• Richard Battista, Media Executive (most recently CEO, Time Inc.)
• Robert Doran, Innovia Media Group/The Marketing Loft, New Canaan
• BJ Flagg, President and Founder, Nurenu Brand Marketing, New Canaan
• Nancy Geary, Executive Director, New Canaan Historical Society
• Jill Gordon, Marketing Executive (formerly with Travelocity, Discovery Channel)
• Sheila Grow, Retailer and Owner, She la la, New Canaan
• Nes Jaffre, Owner, The Roger Sherman Inn, New Canaan
• Lisa Lynne Kirkpatrick, Community Initiative Director, Grace Farms Foundation, New Canaan
• Matthew Kupersmith, Hedge fund manager, Iron Compass Investors
• Jack Loop, Marketing executive, The Loop Company, Inc., New Canaan
• Amanda Martocchio, Architect, Amanda Martocchio Architecture, New Canaan
• John Matz, Tourism Executive, Tauck
• Tucker Murphy, Executive Director, New Canaan Chamber of Commerce
• Gregory Sages, Executive Director, The Glass House, New Canaan
• Brock Saxe, Commercial real estate, Tombrock Corporation, New Canaan
• Jack Trifero, Realtor and former New Canaan business owner

While the committee has yet to make any formal suggestions, one possible attraction in the future could be an architectural festival highlighting some of the significant design attractions around town, said Moynihan.

As a possibility, Moynihan said that there are about 50 examples of impressive Mid-Century Modern architecture throughout the town that could be the focal points of a possible festival.

Image via Shutterstock

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