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The Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce hired Danielle Connelly-Bodnar as the new executive director of the Quakertown-based organization. On Oct. 8, Connelly-Bodnar, of Milford Township, will take over the role from executive director Tara King, who announced her retirement earlier this year. The organization said it received more than 20 resumes from across the nation and the selection process took about three months to complete. Connelly-Bodnar serves as the vice president for government affairs for the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. In that role, she participated on several committees to increase workforce development in the region, including the Manufacturing Council and One Stop Operator Workforce Board Lehigh Valley. Having lived in Bucks County her whole life, Connelly-Bodnar said she is looking forward to serving her hometown area in this new role. She grew up in Sellersville, attended Pennridge High School in Perkasie and she and her husband have lived in Milford for the past 15 years. “One of the things that’s most exciting about the opportunity was, it’s my hometown,” she said. “I can’t wait to bring the excitement, enthusiasm and vision to the role.” The Upper Bucks County region has a lot of potential for business growth and strong tourism, but one of her goals is to encourage more tourists to stay. “I think going into this role one of the things I am focused on is having a lot of conversations with people and to see what potential it has,” Connelly-Bodnar said. “It has a lot of thriving businesses already.” She sees potential for manufacturing growth as well as more restaurants and consumer-based industries. In her current role at the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber, she is involved with six committees related to government affairs. She is also a board member of Quakertown Alive! and serves on the boards of Lehigh Valley Reads and Allentown Economic Development Corp. She is a former member of the Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce Foodie Committee, Upper Bucks Young Professionals and Penn Foundation Annual Giving Event, among others. She previously held posts in government service as district director for Sen. Robert Mensch and deputy district director for Sen. Robert Wonderling, who served in the senate from 2003 to 2009. Throughout her career, she has expanded regional workforce initiatives and managed budget and database systems. She is looking forward to continuing the work that King has done in her nearly two decades of service as the Upper Bucks Chamber’s executive director. “With someone coming new into a role, it’s also paying homage to the people before you,” Connelly-Bodnar said. “Tara King is involved in the workforce issues as well. Tara has done an amazing job.” The organization said King facilitated an administrative move of the chamber office from Milford Township to its current site in the Quakertown Historical Society barn at 21 N. Main St. King also led the chamber’s growth to nearly 600 members. Read the original article here.