November 27, 2008

Zionsville Chamber of Commerce Selects new Executive Director

Ray Cortopassi spoke to the Zionsville Lions Club on November 25, 2008, about his vision for his new role as the Executive Director of the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce. It was clear to all in attendance that Cortopassi has a great love for our town and a strong commitment to our local businesses. He seems to have an excellent handle on what our local businesses need, and he seems to have an excellent grasp of the monumental changes about to take place with the recently approved referendum combining three townships into the new (and much larger) Town of Zionsville.

The Zionsville Time Sentinel recently reported Cortopassi’s immediate goals: 1) contacting chamber members to assess their needs and to solicit feedback on what they think the chamber needs to focus on, 2) attract more commercial development, and 3) keeping current merchants.

“As a Zionsville resident, I feel passionate about this tremendous opportunity to make a real contribution to the positive direction of our community,” Cortopassi said in a press release. “Zionsville is a great place to live and do business, which is a message I look forward to sharing throughout Indiana.”

A 15-year veteran of TV broadcast news reporting, Cortopassi was the evening news anchor for WRTV-TV Channel 6 and more recently has been a contributing reporter and anchor at WTHR television station, both in Indianapolis. Ray and his wife, Leslie, have four children, ages 3, 6, 8 and 10. He is a nine-year Zionsville resident, active in St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and is co-founder and managing director of the Off Main Street Players community theater.

Cortopassi replaced Debbie Cranfill, who resigned earlier this summer after 17 years with the chamber due to family health reasons.

Posted by: Jennifer Blandford