Muller Named Chatham Chamber’s New Director

CHATHAM – Kristin Muller has been appointed as the new executive director of the Chatham Chamber of Commerce and Merchants Association.

 Muller fills a vacancy created by the resignation of Angela Bucar, who stepped down in January after accepting a position as marketing director for Cape Associates.

 Muller owns Muller Associates of Chatham LLC, which operates the commercial building at 400 Main St. She is involved in managing other family-owned commercial properties in other locations as well. Since coming to Chatham in 2012, she has been involved in the chamber and merchants association, experience that will serve her well in her new role, said chamber co-president Emma Carroll.

 “We are excited to welcome Kristin into this role,” she said in a press release. “Her dedication to Chatham and her ability to connect with local businesses and stakeholders make her a natural fit to lead the chamber forward.”

Muller, a fulltime Chatham resident since 2014, said she decided to apply for the executive director position because she is “passionate about our community.”

 “It just seemed like the right time to step up and take the leadership position,” she said in a phone interview Monday.

 The fact that the town is both a destination for visitors and a vibrant year-round community “is part of what makes Chatham special,” she said. “I think that the chamber’s role is in balancing those two things successfully for everybody.”

 Muller has been active in the effort to upgrade Kate Gould Park and expects to continue working with the committee tackling the project, but she noted that it has grown beyond just the chamber and merchants association. 

 “We’ve included stakeholders from around the community,” she said. “It’s not just the chamber.”

 It’s too soon to say if she’ll institute any changes to the organization, Muller said. In the short term, she said, she’ll focus on making sure that members feel the chamber is addressing their needs. More networking events are one way to ensure members get to know each other and understand their role in the town.

 “Everybody’s working hard because they run their own business,” she said. “If they can interact more they might learn a bit from each other and feel more of a sense of community.”

 Being inclusive is important to Muller, and that means working not only with chamber members and other business owners but also the town and greater community.

 “The bottom line is a continually great Chatham for everybody,” she said.