LPBA President Grasso announces his final term
Payne to take reins March 1
The La Plata Business Association has made many strides in the business community over the last few years, with more changes to come as they move further into 2017.
During February’s association meeting, LPBA president Keith Grasso announced that his third and final term as the leader of the association ends this month. He said he has enjoyed working with the entire business com- munity and will remain as a member and supporter of the business associa- tion. Grasso will also continue focusing his time and efforts into music as well as his own business, Island Music Company in La Plata.
“It’s hard for me to say [February] is my last meeting as president. I think we’ve made a lot of headway and really come a long way. I’m real proud of everything that we’ve done — whether it be the sign code, new candidates elected, Rock- toberfest, Small Business Saturdays. We’ve done so many great things and I’m really proud of those,” Grasso said.
Stephen H. Scott, attor- ney at Scott Law Group LLC In La Plata, com- mended Grasso on how he has led the business association over the last few years.
“You have reinvigorat- ed this organization and done a great job with us,” Scott said.
Grasso will be passing the torch to Charlotte Hall resident Sarah Payne, whose family owns Edward L. Sanders Insurance Agency Inc., located in La Plata.
“It’s a great opportunity to come in and take the reins from [Grasso], and bring new ideas and new vision to the group,” Payne said. “There’s been a lot of obstacles that we have overcome over the last three years in regards to the sign code and var- ious things in the town. I’m hoping now that Keith has settled that, now we can move forward from that and focus on positive things being brought into the association — dif- ferent things other than fighting the good fight with the town.”
Grasso said the busi- ness association is known for being a team of prom- inent professionals in dif- ferent areas of business throughout La Plata: banks, law firms, insur- ance companies and retail. He trusts that Payne will continue to make the business association suc- cessful with her enthusiasm, energy and innovative ideas.
“Sarah brings a different vision than I do. I wouldn’t have chosen her if I didn’t think that she would do an awesome job. Sarah has a better sense of their needs and, in business, you need to constantly change. You can’t do the same things you did yesterday and expect it to be successful,” Grasso said.
Grasso said it was very difficult for him to step down and relinquish con- trol of a role into which he has put so much time and effort. He said he has spent at least 40 hours a week as president for the last three years. Still, he said he is extremely con- fident that Payne can get the job done.
Payne describes herself as very organized and reliable. She said she will have some big shoes to fill, but she is extremely invested in the La Plata community and knows the struggles of business owners and consumers there.
“[Grasso] has countless energy — his mind is always going, coming up with new ideas for the group, and he’s very forward-thinking. I’m not always out there in the forefront as [Grasso] is and he’s always walking through the town, visiting businesses. The nature of my business means I’m always in the office, but I want to make an effort to get out more and talk with businesses,” Payne said.
During the LPBA meeting, Grasso also announced that there is a full slate of candidates the association will be supporting in the May 2017 election. The candidates will be revealed as the election approaches.