As Judith Miller advances from vice president to president of the Chamber of Commerce of Newtown, she and the nonprofit business support agency’s leadership are looking to shed the challenges of 2020 and emerge as a collaborative powerhouse involving new and existing members, municipal organizations, and local nonprofits in 2021.

Outgoing President Scott Anders recognized the very public role Miller has been playing representing the chamber in recent years.

“We are fortunate to have a dedicated and talented individual like Judith Miller step forward as the incoming president,” Anders said. “Judith has been reliable and hardworking as Chamber vice president — and has shown her leadership and drive in a variety of efforts and initiatives to help the Chamber and business community. It is a great measure of character for someone to step forward in challenging times for such an important position.”

Miller said she has found much personal and professional fulfillment being actively involved in promoting the Newtown business community and local events for the last five years.

“With a background in business development, sales, and marketing I particularly enjoy developing the synergy between our business and the public,” Miller told The Newtown Bee. “As the incoming president I look forward to serving and promoting our businesses and community. With the current fluidity to social and commercial interactions, we will adjust our planning and initiatives accordingly. I solicit and welcome create suggestions to lift up and promote Newtown.”

Looking back on his two-year term, Anders said, “It wasn’t what I expected.”

Two Primary Goals

Anders said he took on his leadership role with two primary goals.

“The first [was] to make sure in every decision, action, and expenditure we were aligned with our mission to support the business growth of our members. The second was to focus on our financials and doing fewer things very well to better add value to every member,” he said.

New initiatives such as Newtown Day and Mardi Gras have been a great success, Anders reflected, and he said recently named Executive Director Helen Brickfield “has been an essential and invaluable ingredient to the success of the Chamber, as has Judith Miller who has taken a leading role in both of those efforts.”

Noting that Newtown and its business community continue to face difficult times, Anders noted that the Chamber, which receives no government funding, has also been challenged.

“I would say that this is what we were made for as a volunteer community organization — to support each other, business to business, to find a way to get through this extraordinary time. Our membership is made up of self-reliant entrepreneurs and the Chamber has a unique role to help facilitate that member to member help to get back to business and back to profitability,” he said.

Part of doing that will be expanding the chamber’s brand locally, from one that is proportionately business-focused, to one that broadens its identity even more than it has in the past to the greater community.

With that in mind, Miller said the chamber is moving forward co-sponsoring a brand new holiday event they hope can become an annual tradition along with the community’s tree lightings and Main Street Holiday Festival.

“We are excited to launch this new event — pivoting for the times we are in — and partnering with the Newtown Community Center to light the night of December 13 on the Fairfield Hills Campus with Newtown Lights 2020,” Miller said. “Our guests will drive through the Winter Wonderland and park in front of Kent Hall for a holiday themed laser light show.”

Miller said the socially distanced and safe experience includes the eight-minute professional holiday light show and a drive around the Community Center’s decorated and safely staffed Winter Wonderland.

Newtown Lights 2020

“Guests are invited to decorate their cars to be part of the wonder,” Miller said. “The event is Sunday, December 13, and the drive starts at 4 pm, with the first show at 4:30. Tickets will go on sale December 1.”

Guests will be directed to enter the campus on Keating Farms Road to be checked in at the event gate. Then they will drive behind the Newtown Community Center to enjoy the display and finish parked in front of the Kent Building.

Finally, with lights out and radios on, the enchanting laser light production will come to life on the structures of Fairfield Hills campus.

“The holiday projection and laser show is packed with vibrant colors set to a festive holiday themed soundtrack. Aerial laser effects, search lights, lots of effects smoke, and holiday cheer will be displayed over the campus,” Miller said.

This part of the Holiday Lights program is technically produced by DNR Laboratories and creative director Jamie Roderick — and generously underwritten by Ingersoll Auto.

Looking toward the New Year, Chamber Director Brickfield said she is most thankful for everyone who is healthy and working.

“The Chamber has been working to serve its members, to sustain itself, and to stay on message this year more than ever,” she added. “Every day is shop local and shop small — for goods and services, not just retail — but local insurance, marketing, IT, accounting services, and of course fitness, groceries, wine, brew, and food.”

Learn more about ways to collaborate with the Chamber in 2021, how to become a member, and keep up to date with activities by visiting newtown-ct.com — and checking for frequent updates on the agency’s Facebook and Instagram pages.