1921, Charles W. Megathlin, Hyannis
February 24, 1921, the organizational information reports that 75 business and professional men and a number of women met at the Ferguson Hotel, Hyannis for the purpose of organizing a Barnstable County Chamber of Commerce or “some similar institution.” Mr. Megathlin, who headed the list of signers, called the meeting to order and Ambrose E. Pratt was chosen temporary secretary. A committee to bring in a list of officers was formed, and they reported out the following names:
President: Charles W. Megathlin, Hyannis
Vice President: Thomas S. Crowell, Yarmouth Port
Treasurer: Thomas H. Nickerson, Harwich Port
Secretary: Ambrose E. Pratt, Sandwich
Officers were duly elected by ballot, but much to the regret of everyone, Mr. Megathlin asked to be excused, stating that owing to his many business activities, it would be impossible for him to act as president as much as he would like to do so. Mr. Megathlin agreed to serve until the next meeting.
1921– 27, Admiral Francis Tiffany Bowles, Barnstable
March 17, 1921, the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce was officially launched at a meeting of those interested held at the Ferguson, Hyannis. The acting president, Charles Megathlin, presided. Another committee presented a list of names for directors, 12 for 1 year and 12 for 2 years. The directors having been elected, they immediately retired to consider electing permanent officers:
President: Francis T. Bowles, Rear Admiral
1st VP: Heman A. Harding, Chatham
2nd VP: William H. Young, Provincetown
3rd VP: Walter B. Chase
Executive Secretary: Ambrose E. Pratt, Sandwich
Treasurer: W. Sears Nickerson, Harwich Port
1927-35: Walter O. Luscombe, Jr., Woods Hole
1935-39: Oscar C. Nickerson, Chatham, Nickerson Lumber Company (now Mid-Cape Home Centers)
1937-47: Dr. Lewis C. Weeks was Executive Secretary
1939-45: Arthur L. Sparrow, South Orleans, Arthur L. Sparrow Co. Engineers
1945-47: Donald G. Trayser, Barnstable, Guest House owner, Clerk of Barnstable Superior Court, author
1947-70: Norman Henry Cook was Executive Secretary
1947-49: Charles W. Megathlin, Hyannis, Druggist
1949-53: Benjamin W. Atwood
1953-55: Edward J. Gosselin
1955-57: Capt. John R. Peterson, Cape Codder Hotel (the original in Falmouth)
1957-59: Benjamin D. Fleet, Sandwich, Fleetwood Cottages & Fleet Tire
1959-61: Floyd A. Van Duzer, Barnstable, Van Duzer Dude Ranch
1961-63: Richard J. VanderMay, Eastham, Whispering Pines Village cottages & Eastham Travel Agency
1963-65: William W. Peters
1965-67: Rupert L. Nichols, Harwich, Allen Harbor Marine
1967-69: George B. Weston, North Falmouth, Bourne Mill Restaurant
1970–97: Michael Frucci of Yarmouth was Executive Secretary
1969-71: Gordon I. Miller, Falmouth, Falmouth National Bank
1971-73: Chester G. Peck, Provincetown, Provincetown Inn
1973-75: Milton L. Penn, Hyannis, Puritan Clothing of Cape Cod
1975-79: John L. Kayajan, Coca Cola Bottling Co.
1979-81: Howard “Budge” Luther Hall, Jr., S. Wellfleet, Southfleet Restaurant (now Van Rensselaer’s) & Motor Inn
1981-83: E. Joel Peterson, Woods Hole, The Dome Restaurant, Nautilus Inn
1983-85: Richard A. Sullivan, Bryden & Sullivan Insurance
1985-87: Bruce MacKilligan, Falmouth, Falmouth National Bank
1987-89: Jay Tracy, Tracy Volkswagen
1989-91: Richard K. Corsini, E. Dennis, Cape Office Supplies
1991-93: Vincent J. Catania (VJ), Cotuit, Hearth n’ Kettle Management (now Catania Hospitality)
1993-95: Rupert (Ren) Nichols, Harwich, Allen Harbor Marine, (son of prior President who served in 1965-67)
1995-97: Paul Swartz, Centerville, The Dockside Hotel Group
1997-98: Wendy K. Northcross of West Barnstable was interim Executive Director
1997-99: Doreen Bilezikian, Yarmouthport, The Christmas Tree Shops
1998: Cape Cod Chamber and Cape Cod Economic Development Council merged
1998-2002: John D. O’Brien of Harwich became Chief Executive Officer
Wendy K. Northcross of West Barnstable became President of the Convention & Visitors Bureau division
Kristen Smith of Centerville became President of the Economic Development division
1999-2001: Kevin M. Howard, Harwich, Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club
2001-03: Paul Rumul, Sandwich, Catania Hospitality
2002-21: Wendy K. Northcross was Chief Executive Officer
2003-04: John C. Davenport, South Yarmouth, The Davenport Companies (died in office)
2004-05: Paul Rumul, Sandwich, The Davenport Companies
2005-07: Daniel Wolf, Harwich, Cape Air & Nantucket Airlines
2007-09: Richard W. Neitz, South Yarmouth, Neitz Real Estate
2009-11: William Zammer, Jr., New Seabury, Cape Cod Restaurants
2011-13: Dorothy A. Savarese, Centerville, Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank
2013-15: Gary A. Sheehan, West Barnstable, Cape Medical Supply
2015-16: Matthew Lee, Esq., Sandwich, Tocci & Lee, LLC
2016-17: Olive Chase, Marstons Mills, The Casual Gourmet
2017-18: Kenneth Smith, Yarmouth, Red Jacket Resorts
2018-19: Larry Drago, Marstons Mils, BizChecks Payroll
2019-20: Robert (Bert) Talerman, Barnstable, Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank
2020-21: Linda Markham, Marstons Mills, Cape Air/Nantucket Airlines
2021-22: Janet Feeney, CPA, Plymouth, DePaola, Begg & Associates
July 1, 2021: Paul Niedzwiecki, West Barnstable becomes Chief Executive Officer
