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Carucci Supports SCC as Program Director

With seemingly endless energy, Ellen Carucci is supporting Shoreline Chamber of Commerce (SCC) as its program director.

Ellen began her role with SCC in November 2020, bringing decades of experience in sales and marketing combined with an innate understanding of what it takes to help local businesses succeed. Non-profit SCC serves the Branford, North Branford, and Guilford areas.

Formerly a weekend resident of Branford residing full time in New York City, “I worked for glossy magazines for the bulk of my career,” says Ellen of her 25 years in the business. “It was fun, it was exciting, but it wasn’t rewarding on the level of making a difference in the world.”

A few years back, she felt, “...I’m getting to a point where I want to make a difference in my community. What can I do that will give me a sense of fulfillment?”

With the support of her husband, Will Tracy (a partner in two restaurants in Manhattan), Ellen decided to try living and working in Branford and applied for a part-time development director position at Orchard House Adult Medical Day Center. She got the job and served at the post for three years until joining SCC.

“I loved the people,” says Ellen, who secured grants for Orchard House, including one from the Branford Community Foundation funding “Lest We Forget.” The project, based on National Public Radio’s Story Corps, helps gather oral histories from elderly community members ahead of experiencing memory loss.

“The whole point was to capture these memories before they’re lost forever,” says Ellen.

In Branford, Ellen is board secretary of Friends of the Blackstone Memorial Library and a Branford Rotary Club board member. Her links to the restaurant world came into play in 2020 when she co-chaired two wildly successful Branford Rotary pandemic assistance initiatives, Help Out-Take Out and BRaffle.

“I’ve gotten to know a lot of Branford restaurateurs, and as soon as they know I’ve got a husband in the business, they know that I get what their challenges are. In the best times, it’s a challenging business. Throw a wrinkle like the pandemic in it, and it can get out of control,” says Ellen.

When an opportunity join SCC as program director came up last year, Ellen was selected by SCC’s Board of Directors, which is chaired by Kim Spanier, who devotes “incredible energy” to the role, says Ellen. Ellen also thanks past chamber president Sheri Cote for “pivoting the chamber on a dime to become a virtual resource” for members during the pandemic.

“I had the advantage of walking in with that already being set up,” says Ellen. “I think Sheri didn’t miss a beat, and that made it so much easier for me.”

While members are attuned to SCC offerings via Zoom and webinars, it’s exciting to begin to welcome them back to in-person events. Ellen helped host SCC’s first “Net Walking” in May (meeting up at SCC’s Guilford office, 2614 Boston Post Road); the third walk took place July 20. Last week, many members came out to Evergreen Woods in North Branford for SCC’s first in-person Net 90 gathering in many months.

“It was our first indoors, in-person event since the pandemic started. I think people were just so excited to gather. It felt very, very comfortable,” Ellen says. “And [Net 90] really is an amazing group, because everyone wants to see everyone else succeed. That was so palpable in the room.”

Many SCC members are also looking forward to the return of in-person Business After Hours, kicking off with Calcagni Real Estate in Guilford hosting on Tuesday, July 27.

Ellen would love to have more businesses and organizations join SCC.

“A big part of our mission is to help people network, to help them market their business, and to give them professional and personal development, as well as connecting them with resources,” she says. “I just want people to know that the chamber is listening and we deliver value and good customer service.”

When Ellen came on board with SCC late last year, a brand new program was already making a splash, VisitShorelineCT, developed by board members and the SCC Tourism Committee. The program includes a lively Facebook page (@VisitShorelineCT) designed to draw visitors and support business sponsors. Its Come to the Connecticut Shoreline advertising/publicity campaign is underway now; for more information, visit www.shorelinechamberct.com.

“There’s a lot of pent-up demand for weekend and short-haul travel, so we really want to make our shoreline attractions top of mind,” says Ellen. “We have so many unusual offerings here.”

In fact, you probably couldn’t whip up a better combination of three neighboring New England towns to visit for attractions, restaurants ,and business offerings than Branford, North Branford, and Guilford.

“Luckily, we didn’t have to,” says Ellen, laughing.

She also thanks local residents for supporting their community business members.

“It’s worth emphasizing money that’s spent in the local economy stays in the local economy,” Ellen says, adding ribbon cuttings are among her favorite SCC duties.

“It’s just so hopeful when a new business or location opens, and somebody is investing their intellectual capital and their financial capital in something that gives back to the community. I love the optimism of working for the chamber.”