Dawn Jackson may not have grown up on the shoreline, but she knows it as well as any lifer. Dawn has helped steer several civic organizations and, with her new position as executive director of the Madison Chamber of Commerce, she is putting that experience to work by promoting Madison’s growing business community.

Dawn grew up in Pennsylvania and had a burgeoning career in New York City working in the marketing field, but when she and her husband Jeremy began searching for a more settled lifestyle to raise their children, Connecticut’s shoreline was first on the list.

“I started my career in New York [City] because my mom grew up in New York. After furthering my education, I went to live with my two cousins there and learned the ropes of life. New York is great; it’s about culture and museums and exposure to neat things, and now I love living in my small town of Guilford,” says Dawn. “Our whole family really loves living here on the shoreline; we just love it here. True story: I actually met my husband on the train to New York while commuting. At that point, I was in my late 30s. We met, had our family, and we made the decision partially, I think, because I grew up in a small town of less than 20,000 people. I really didn’t want to raise my family in a busy environment. I just loved Connecticut because I didn’t grow up around the water, and the shore here is just so beautiful. When the kids started to get older, and the kids were evolving, we made the decision that it would be a good idea to move out of Fairfield County. We had always come to Guilford for the fair, and we just fell in love with the Guilford-Madison area. And we settled in Guilford in 2016, and we just love it here.”

Since moving to the area, Dawn has held several different positions with nonprofits and civic organizations, including development director at Women & Family Life Center in Guilford, director of business development at the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce, and now executive director of the Madison Chamber of Commerce.

“I started at Women & Family Life Center and worked with some amazing people there. It is such an incredible nonprofit with such a great mission. That experience really allowed me to start engaging with and meeting people from different towns,” says Dawn. “Then came an opportunity at the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce, and I spent just over a year there when this opportunity in Madison came about. I just love Madison, so it was an ideal position.”

Dawn says that networking and meeting the people of Madison has been a great experience. The passion of local businesses and customers gives her an opportunity to apply all of her skills.

“I want to listen to people here and say, ‘What can we do in town to connect with our businesses?’ I had some big shoes to fill here. Eileen Banisch was head of the chamber for 27 years, and she left a great legacy. She really had a solid foothold in the community, and I still connect with Eileen whenever I have questions. She is an amazing resource. She truly loved this town,” says Dawn. “For me, I think meeting up with our members and celebrating who they are is critical. I just got back from Molly Rose Consignments, who is celebrating 10 years in business, and those are the types of businesses we want to honor and ensure the community is aware of.”

Dawn says that the chamber’s main efforts are not just in connecting customers to business, but also in bringing businesses together. That cross-pollination can be a very effective strategy, says Dawn.

“Everything from the sidewalk sales to the Souper Bowl event, to the beachcomber event, Trunk or Treat, Shop Small Saturday—we really try and reach out. The chamber is only sustained through the support of our members’ businesses and, in turn, we help promote economic development,” she says.

According to Dawn, Madison attracts people from all over the globe seeking a simple experience of shopping and eating and availing themselves of the natural opportunities of hiking, biking, and spending time at the beach.

“So, our office is part visitor center, as well. We get people from Switzerland, Canada; yesterday, there were three people from Pennsylvania. They really come from all over,” says Dawn.

As to what tourists are looking for, Dawn says they want to experience that quaint shoreline immersion.

“I think they are coming here to discover Madison. One of the most surprising parts of my job is that there are so many people who come into our community on a daily basis. The summer is over, but we are still getting people coming in every day, looking for what to do here in town,” says Dawn.

“So many people come in looking for what to do,” she adds. “We have Hammonasset, the Greenway Trail; we created a map for downtown and highlighted all the shops. There are all sorts of things that our little office can connect people with. It’s wonderful that our town recognizes and wants to sustain what we have here. It’s really what Madison offers fundamentally that people are coming here for. Looking at how the downtown is being enhanced, especially with the new community center, we are really excited about what the future holds and keeping visitors and residents coming back is essential.”

According to Dawn, one of the challenges in Madison is reaching across the entire town. Madison and Guilford are two of the longest north-to-south towns in Connecticut, which creates an actual physical separation between their downtowns and the businesses further north, especially in Madison, which has a number of thriving businesses along and north of Route 80.

Forging deeper connections between the two distinct districts is a mission that Dawn is eager to take on.

“That has been a conversation point for us. We are really trying to develop stronger ties. In fact, we are teaming with Madison Earth Care for next fall to host a bourbon and apple cider-tasting business with a twist. It’s about opening up those conversations, and I try and be aware of all the businesses, no matter where they are in town,” says Dawn. “It’s beautiful to see our businesses working together because that is what Madison is all about. I love working with a singular town. It’s about awareness, and I can’t wait to start talking to more members up north and discovering how we can start bringing momentum up there. There is a lot to offer in North Madison. There are some really cool businesses up north, and we want to ensure residents and visitors are aware of that.”

Dawn says the board and its members bring a unique passion to the chamber and have been very positive since she has taken the reins.

“Our board of directors really supports the chamber and is very engaged and is really wonderful. They are all members and business people in the community and focused on keeping Madison thriving,” Dawn says.

“I am truly thankful to be here,” she adds. “The Madison community really supports the businesses, which in turn makes the chamber successful and keeps the businesses thriving. This community is like a big hug.”

The chamber has several upcoming events, including the Scarecrow Invasion on Monday, Oct. 16; Trunk or Treat on Halloween, Tuesday, Oct. 31; and several new projects, according to Dawn. For more information, visit www.madisonct.com.