Karen Chapman

PHOTO/MATT VOLPINI

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By Emily Micucci

As her high school graduation approached, Karen Chapman faced a dilemma: attend college or enter the workforce.

The now 52-year-old Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce president told her father she wanted to skirt college and start working when an opportunity at the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce opened. Her father told her the secretary job would be a stepping stone, but it turned into a career in chamber leadership.

“I fell in love with the work; I fell in love with the people,” Chapman said.

That was in 1980. Chapman, a Worcester native who now lives in Oxford, worked her way up and by her 30s was managing the Worcester chamber's Westborough-Northborough affiliate program.

The affiliate became independent in 2002, and assumed the Corridor Nine name in 2003. Chapman was named vice president while her longtime colleague — Barbara Clifford — became president. And when Clifford announced her retirement in January, the chamber board offered Chapman the job, which she called “an honor.”

“I'm very committed to this work; I love what I do and they just believe I was the right candidate for the job,” Chapman said.

Chapman is proud of the fundraising she did in her previous role, generating roughly $500,000 in sponsorships for the Corridor Nine chamber, scholarships for area students and grants to support local teachers.

But as president, one of her chief interests is increasing value to chamber members through online programming, which will include professional development training in countless areas, according to Chapman. These offerings — to be launched in the coming months — cater to busy professionals who don't have time to complete training outside the office, she said.

Meanwhile, Chapman looks forward to leading Corridor Nine as new development continues to unfold in the chamber's five core member towns of Westborough, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Southborough and Grafton. She believes the decision for Corridor Nine to become independent was an appropriate one, given the evolution of the retail, hospitality and commercial office space landscape over the last dozen years.

“It was just really good timing,” Chapman said.

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MetroWest 10 To Watch 2014 - Karen Chapman, Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce