Greater Portsmouth Chamber President Resigns

After eight successful years as president of the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, Doug Bates, recently tendered his resignation to the Board of Directors, to be effective on Dec. 31, 2015.

Chamber of Commerce Chairman, Ken Murphy, said, “Doug’s departure comes after years of hard work and dedication to the Chamber and to the community as a whole. His thoughtful leadership has resulted in growth and stability for the Chamber, as well as a long list of accomplishments benefitting the community. He has been a tremendous asset to the City and to the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce; we wish him well and he will be missed.”

During Bates’ tenure, he led the Chamber to work collaboratively with its membership and the community at large to encourage and support healthy economic growth in the Seacoast, according to a press statement.

Some highlights of his tireless devotion to the growth of the community, and his mission to increase membership value, include: building repairs and renovations, technology upgrades, increased fiscal efficiencies, development of strong partnerships with several local organizations, raising awareness to the strengths of the community through the initiation of such events as Restaurant Week, Shop Portsmouth Friday Nights, Fashion Night Out, Hit the Decks and the Chamber’s signature annual event, Street.life! – all designed to celebrate Portsmouth and the people who live, work and play here. Bates also spearheaded the commissioning of the USS New Hampshire in 2008, provided support for the Boston-Portsmouth Air Shows from 2010-2012 and hosted several “Meet the Candidates” forums to help the membership and the community stay informed of local and statewide issues. While these events offer insight into his leadership and creativity, they are only a small representation of what Doug Bates has done for the City of Portsmouth.

Bates has been an enthusiastic champion in the effort to highlight Portsmouth as a destination city. Many of the Chamber’s accomplishments during his tenure focused on smart growth, building tourism and attracting visitors from New York, Boston, Montreal and everywhere in between. The accolades that Portsmouth receives in national publications are a reflection of the Chambers’ efforts to promote Portsmouth as a vibrant and unique seacoast community.

In his statement to the Board of Directors, Bates cited health issues for his reason for stepping down and said, “I am very fortunate to live in a community that has allowed me to flourish. I would like to thank the Board and all those that have preceded it for their energy and support. I would also like to thank the Staff, both past and present, for working together with me to make this Chamber great. A great community deserves a great Chamber; I’m happy to have been part of both.”

Bates will receive the Boy Scout’s Annual Good Scout Award on Dec. 16, 2015, during a luncheon at the Atlantic Grill. Annually, this honor is bestowed upon a community leader who has made significant and recognizable contributions to Portsmouth.

The co-chair of the Good Scout award lunch, Ben Wheeler, who was recently the Chamber’s Chair, said, “Doug’s contributions to making Portsmouth a vibrant community made him a great candidate for the Award, and we’re pleased that he is the Honoree, he truly deserves it for his years of dedication and numerous accomplishments.”