Chamber Chief States His Goals

article taken from The ADVOCATE
By Richard Lee
January 17, 2003

As 2003 begins, the new chairman of the Stamford Chamber of Commerce has said that his main goal will be to intensify the chamber's School-to-Career program and other goals are to enhance transportation, encourage more affordable housing, and discourage gratuitous casino development.

Along with School-to-Career, the chamber will also continue its focus on the TechCycle program, designed to narrow the "digital divide" in local schools.

"The goal is to have a computer in every student's household within the next six years," said Garry Feldman, founder and owner of U.S. Computer Connection in Stamford.

Feldman has chaired the TechCycle program, which involves students at J.M. Wright Technical-Vocational High School and the local school system's Academy of Information Technology in the restoration of donated computers.

Incoming fourth graders who don't have computers are given the refurbished models.

Feldman, 35, has worked himself up through the chamber's hierarchy since joining the business group in 1990, three years after starting his business.

"I didn't know anyone in town, so I immediately joined the chamber," said Feldman, who has become a cheerleader for the organization and its benefits to businesses. On the chamber's board since 1998, he chaired its technology committee and the TechCycle committee and was the chamber's treasurer and vice chairman under former Chairman Paul Edelberg. "This is an opportunity to work with the smartest business leaders in Stamford."

Transportation, work-force development, affordable housing and opposition to a potential casino development in Bridgeport all will remain high priorities this year, Feldman said, as well as the impact of the state budget deficit on the business climate and local schools.

"Transportation has been the No. 1 concern of the business community and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future," Feldman said.

Another challenge will be to prepare for Stamford's next wave of business expansion through work-force development, he said, noting that the city has had the lowest unemployment rate in the state for the past five years.

Stamford is also the only city in the state that has seen an increase in its housing stock in the past decade, said Feldman, who started his one-year term in November.

"The chamber will continue to work with the city and its Zoning Board to make sure that additional affordable housing continues," he said.

Plans for a casino in Bridgeport continue to concern the chamber, a member of the Connecticut Coalition Against Casino Expansion. The coalition was a staunch supporter of the General Assembly's recent repeal of the Las Vegas Night legislation, which played a key role in the establishment of American Indian-run casinos in the state.

Feldman has demonstrated his ability as a leader since joining the chamber and filling subsequent leadership roles, chamber President Jack Condlin said.

"He headed the committee for our chamber retreat and has taken on special projects, including the ad hoc committee which looked at our bylaws and makeup of our board," Condlin said.