Tom Grilk, Executive Director of the BAA, will be the guest speaker at the Wakefield Lynnfield Chamber of Commerce annual meeting June 23rd

Wakefield native Tom Grilk, Executive Director of the Boston Athletic Association, will be the guest speaker at the Wakefield Lynnfield Chamber of Commerce at the annual meeting on Tuesday, June 23rd. The meeting will be held at the Clarion Inn in Wakefield beginning at 5:30 p.m. Grilk, a regular member of the Boston Athletic Association since 1987, became Executive Director of the B.A.A. in January 2011. He served as president of the B.A.A. Board of Governors from 2003 until 2011. He was first elected to the B.A.A. Board of Governors in 1990 and served as a vice president starting in 1995, prior to being elected president. During his tenure and leadership, he has worked with the B.A.A. Board and staff to strengthen the B.A.A. as an organization, especially from a managerial perspective. He has also worked with the Board in shaping the B.A.A.'s short and long-term development across all areas of the B.A.A.’s activity: the conduct of athletic events, the operation of community service initiatives, and the training and development of athletes. In addition to his duties as Executive Director, Grilk has been the marathon's finish line announcer since 1979 and is a former competitor, having run a personal best marathon time of 2:49:03 in 1978 and a Boston Marathon personal best of 2:54 that same year. He has served as finish line and public address announcer at many other B.A.A.-related events, including the B.A.A. Half Marathon and Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk, and has represented the B.A.A. at press conferences and public events. Born in Wakefield, Grilk currently resides in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, with his wife, Nancy, and his twin sons, Christopher and David. He was a corporate and business lawyer for many years, both with the Boston law firm Hale and Dorr and as counsel and general counsel to Boston area technology companies. From 1984 to 1987, he and his wife lived in Tokyo, Japan. He is a graduate of Cornell University and received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School. He is expected to talk about his experiences at the B.A.A. and his focus on maintaining the traditions that have fostered more than a century of achievement at the B.A.A., while pursuing innovations that will keep the organization and the Boston Marathon at the forefront of athletic excellence and community service going forward. The annual meeting will also include the election of officers and directors, as well as the presentation of several awards to recognize businesses and individuals who have had an impact on businesses and the community. The annual James E. Chisholm Leader in Business Award will be awarded during the evening to recognize the value of dedicated regional business leadership and extensive professional level communication abilities, as well as community organization skills which leave groundwork for generations in the business community. The Chamber will honor two local businesses, one from each community, with the Business of the Year Award in recognition of businesses that are an integral part of the community by supporting and participating in community events, is philanthropic in their work, and encourages employee participation in community events. Other awards will include the Unsung Hero Award and the Welcome to Wakefield/ Lynnfield – New Business Award. The annual meeting is open to members and nonmembers alike. The cost is $30 per person for members, $35 per person for non-members and includes dinner. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Marianne Cohen, Executive Director of the Wakefield Lynnfield Chamber of Commerce (781) 245-0741, via email at marianne@wakefieldlynnfieldchamber.org or online at www.wakefieldlynnfieldchamber.org under the event tab.