THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 8, 1995 TAG: 9512060153
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY XIAOHONG ZHANG SWAIN, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
The Chesapeake division of Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce will get a new executive director this week.
William J. Holloran Jr. of Virginia Beach will become the executive director of the Chesapeake office Monday.
Holloran, 40, has been vice president for small business development of Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. In the past, Holloran also headed the chamber's Norfolk division from 1986 to 1988 and the Virginia Beach division from 1988 to 1990.
``Bill has expertise in small business development and public policy,'' said Jack Hornbeck, president of Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. ``He has the particular skills that are very valuable to the future of Chesapeake.''
Donna Girardot, the current executive director of the Chesapeake division, will become the executive director of the Virginia Beach division.
The transition stems from a staff-restructuring effort by Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce.
Holloran said he has been involved with the Chamber of Commerce for nine years. He has experience working with the Virginia General Assembly on public policies concerning small business. He also worked with federal policy makers on the North American Free Trade Act at the White House Conference for Small Businesses.
Holloran said he's impressed with the economic state of Chesapeake, considering the effect of significant federal defense budget cuts and downsizing.
For Holloran, the future focus of the Chesapeake economy should be on developing manufacturing businesses and attracting international manufacturing distributors.
``He's one of the most knowledgeable persons in small business,'' said Girardot. ``He has a reputation of being a workaholic.''
Girardot said the staff reorganization aims at assigning staff members according to their particular talents. Four and a half years ago, Girardot was moved to Chesapeake from Virginia Beach to head the Chesapeake division and to take charge of regional education for the overall region. As a result of the recent reassignment, Girardot now is in charge of program development for the overall region and assumes the executive directorship of the Virginia Beach division. by CNB