The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
North Coast Chamber of Commerce taps new leader
Steve Corcoran is the new executive director of the North Coast Chamber of Commerce, covering Avon, Avon Lake, Sheffield Lake and Sheffield Village.
Corcoran officially took over Feb. 1, succeeding John Sobolewski.
“(The chamber) put out a recruitment request, and had a couple of people, several people sign up for that; it went through an interview process,” he said. “I sat down and talked to the selection committee.
“And then, the selection committee made a recommendation, and the board approved.”
Corcoran said his background mostly is in the West Shore Chamber of Commerce, in Westlake and Bay Village.
“I’ve been involved for at least 10 years with the North Coast Chamber of Commerce, working various committees like the golf committee and the membership committee,” he said. “I was assisting (Sobolewski) … for about the last year or so.”
Following Sobolewski’s retirement, Corcoran said he hopes to fill the shoes left by his predecessor.
“He’s kind of Mr. Chamber,” Corcoran said. “He was the executive director, at the same time, for Fairview, North Olmsted, North Coast and West Shore.
“With all of that, he started up the (business
networking association) Power of MORE.”
Sobolewski is only partially retired, Corcoran said.
As a longtime friend to Sobolewski, Corcoran said he is honored to take up the executive director mantle.
“John has decided to retire from Power of MORE, from North Olmsted, from North Coast, and he’s still the executive director for West Shore,” Corcoran said. “He’s going to hang on to
that.”
As executive director, Corcoran said he works for the board, not the other way around.
Despite the added responsibility, he said he’s always seeking new ideas for the chamber and its daily operations.
“I’m in charge of everything from member recruitment, to chamber communications, promotions, marketing, (and) events,” Corcoran said. “The executive director works to ensure that the members are getting the most benefits out of their membership (to) the chamber.”
The members are the lifeblood of the chamber community, he said.
“Actually, I’m pretty excited,” Corcoran said. “I’ve been involved in several chambers around northern Ohio.
“The North Coast Chamber, its members, number one; they’re some of the nicest people you can meet. And so, it’s been a real pleasure getting to know these members.”
As for improving the quality of life within this chamber, Corcoran has a couple of ideas.
The group already is excellent, he said, but listening to members for possible improvements is key.
“One of the goals is to heed to (member) wishes, to become a little bit more autonomous as a chamber in our various functions,” Corcoran said. “Focus more on immediate membership, while entertaining Power of MORE and promoting those opportunities.”
Another goal for Corcoran is to help boost the local economy following the coronavirus pandemic, especially among chamber members.
“The old adage, friends do business with friends, that still rings true,” he said.
“If you can go out there, shake hands, meet people, and make friends, then it’ll naturally help your bottom line.”