New chamber president Ian Gavin with (from left) Marguerite Buckley, Orla Duncan, Eamonn Brady, Brigid Manley, (Mr Gavin), Pat Whelan, Laura Leonard, Denis Hogan, Julie Magan, Mark Brindley, Thomas Flynn and Berty Dunne.

Ian Gavin elected Mullingar Chamber of Commerce president

Published: Tue 24 Jun 2014, 1:46 PM

The business ethos of Mullingar’s Chamber of Commerce should be to work for the good for the town as a whole, the newly-elected chamber president, Ian Gavin says.

“I will be encouraging new membership and saying to everyone that they should join the chamber of commerce. It is challenging to help a specific business but I believe what is good for the town as a whole is good for everyone and it is important for all the executives of Mullingar Chamber of Commerce to do their best to act for the good of the town as a whole,” said Mr Gavin following his election to the role.

“Our focus should be to bring new business into town, encourage people from the area to come in and enjoy the town and promote the town to visitors and encourage them to come to Mullingar.”

Mr Gavin, an accountant, is a partner in Mullingar firm John Gavin & Co and is joined in his office by Brigid Manley, director of sales and marketing at Mullingar Park Hotel as deputy president.

Handing over his chain of office to Ian, outgoing president Pat Whelan, who will take on the role of vice-president, described his three years in office:

“My first year I concentrated on making the chamber more accessible; in the second year our focus was retail and in the third year we focused on incubating business start ups.

“Going forward I think it would be important for the chamber to succeed in influencing key decision makers and become a clear strong policy voice, recognised as the voice for business in Mullingar.”