ϲ put me on the path to making connections, and now many years later I’m still working on creating connections, all because of the interaction I made in college.
If you asked David Colby, ’91, what the chamber of commerce was when he was a freshman in college, you would have been met with a blank stare.
“Like most people I didn’t really know or understand what a chamber of commerce was,” Colby said. “So, I can’t say I knew that’s what I was going to pursue in terms of a career.”
That all changed when Colby, who studied business, took a marketing class at ϲ State.
Through the class, he worked on the town of Whitman’s recycling program, and performed research, developed promotions, and worked with local businesses in the area to create public awareness.
At the end of the project, he and his classmates gave a presentation. The experience led Colby to a job offer with the Brockton Chamber of Commerce.
“I graduated from ϲ State on a Saturday and started my job with the chamber on a Monday,” Colby said. “The entire experience led me to that job, ultimately to a career, and the job I’m in now.”
Today, Colby lives in Clermont, Florida, where he is the president and CEO of the South-Lake Chamber of Commerce.
Since leaving ϲ, Colby has worked steadily in the field.
From his first job in Brockton, to serving as the executive director for the Watertown chamber, president of the Berkshire chamber, and president of the Columbia County chamber in upstate New York, before moving onto Florida in 2016.
“I’ve enjoyed being in a position where I can connect businesses to resources,” Colby said. “I get to watch businesses grow and be successful and become hubs of activity within their communities.”
Colby explained that chambers of commerce exist to help local businesses thrive. They create networking opportunities, connect businesses to resources, and assist when businesses have specific questions or concerns.
“We bring people together and help businesses develop their own voice,” he said.
The desire to build and be part of a strong community goes back to his days at Bridgwater.
As an undergraduate, he played football and rugby, was active in student government, frequented the student union, and participated in different campus activities.
“There was always something going on and a lot to do. I really enjoyed that about ϲ, I had a lot of fun meeting people,” Colby said. “ϲ put me on the path to making connections, and now many years later I’m still working on creating connections, all because of the interaction I made in college.”
For new and returning students arriving on campus this fall, Colby offers some advice.
“Try to explore every path you can, talk to people who are in the fields you are interested in and learn from them,” he said, including older Bears like himself.
“There are a lot of alumni doing so many great things in so many different fields,” Colby said. “Most people are willing to share what they know. There is a lot of value in reaching out and asking to grab a cup of coffee, to connect and learn.”
Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu