Knitting shop owner new head of business group

MIDDLETOWN — Pamela Steele, owner of Pamela Roose Specialty Handknits and Yarn, has been named the new chairwoman of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce’s Central Business Bureau.

Her company was founded in September 2002 as a homebased business, making and selling handknitted items at craft fairs and events. In November 2010, she opened her first store in the Main Street Market at 386 Main St., according to a press release. In two and a half years, she outgrew her space and moved to her present location at 88 Court St. in June 2013.

“Pamela was always a passionate knitter and it was her dream to share her passion with others,” according to the chamber. After working for 25 years at Pratt & Whitney, and four years as an assistant town clerk and assistant registrar of vital statistics in Lebanon and Newington, she realized it was time to pursue that goal, the release said.

“Pam Steele is an outstanding businessperson and someone that Middletown is lucky to have. We are very excited that she is taking over the leadership of our Central Business Bureau, which is one our most active divisions,” Chamber President Larry McHugh said in a prepared statement.

Steele is also a wife, mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother and church musician. On Sunday mornings, she can be found at St. James Episcopal Church in Higganum or Cross St. AME Zion Church in Middletown leading the Vision Choir (children’s choir).

She is a native of Middletown, graduated from Mercy High School, and attended Middlesex Community College. She has served on the board of directors for Oddfellows Playhouse, as cochairwoman of the Freedom Fund committee for the Middlesex County Branch of the NAACP, as president of the Mercy Alumni Association, and training coordinator and professional adviser at Pratt & Whitney, according to the chamber.

She is now on the board of directors for the Chamber and a member of the Middletown Arts Commission.

“Pamela believes as a business owner it is important to give back to her community. Her store is involved in several charitable projects. Two of those projects involve supporting the veterans,” the release said.

For information, visit middlesexchamber.com and pamelaroose.com.

Steele