Charity Folk, Republican Candidate for 16th District House of Representatives

General Information

Name : Ms. Charity Power Folk
Place of residence : Simsbury

Education

College

Attended college : Yes
College : Graduate of Emerson College, Boston Univesity
Degree : BS in Speech (Emerson) Basic Studies (BU)
Year of graduation : 1971

Grad school

Employment Information

Job titles held : Executive Director, Access Manager, Legal Secretary, Administrator, Factory Peicework, Salad maker & front counter, Grocery store clerk
Employers : Simsbury Chamber, SCTV, Wiggin Nourie (Manchester, NH) Paper Company (Lowell, MA), Harvey Hubble, (Bridgeport), Kentucky Fried Chicken Westport), DeLuca's Market (Boston)

Political Information

Party affiliation : Republican
Running for a: State office
Running for position: State Representative
Chamber/district: 16th
Incumbent: No
Previous elective offices : NA
Unsuccessful bids for elective offices: NA

Party HQ

Address Unknown at this time
Simsbury
CT
6070

Campaign Manager

Name : Moira Wertheimer
Title : Chairman

URLs

Website : www.charityforsimsbury.com
Facebook : Charity Folk

Other facts

In August of 2012, Charity Folk will have had 20 years experience as the Executive Director of the Simsbury Chamber of Commerce helping the organization grow from 180 members to over 450 member companies, now the 8th largest chamber in the Greater Hartford region. Charity Folk and the Simsbury Chamber are actively engaged in local land use issues and through their partnership with local boards and commissions the Simsbury Chamber has brought about changes to land use regulations and streamlined both the permitting and sign application process. Using her leadership and management skills the Simsbury Chamber has hosted numerous community forums and symposiums with community leaders, local businesses and residents to further economic development initiatives for Simsbury. In October 2009, Ms. Folk introduced Simsbury’s “Local Vendor Preference Ordinance” for the town of Simsbury. She has been recognized for her talent in understanding and motivating volunteers and her diplomacy when dealing with town officials, clubs and organizations. During her tenure, the Simsbury Chamber has implemented successful School-to-Career programs for local students, took a leadership role in the establishment of a Career Center at the Simsbury High School and a Business Resource Center at the Simsbury Public Library. She managed the smooth transition to an independent local chamber in 2000, coordinated financially successful community festivals and events and moved the Simsbury Chamber into the age of on line communication. As part of their commitment to the community, the Simsbury Chamber has been honoring business leaders, educational leaders and public servants on an annual basis at their annual meeting and supporting local non-profits through benefits and services at the chamber. Ms. Folk has received the Small-Mid Sized “Chamber Executive of the Year” Award from the CT Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE) and the “Commitment to Excellence” Outstanding Performance Award from the Simsbury Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Folk has been a speaker at the CT Home Builders Association Developer’s Council and is past chairman of the Hartford Region Chambers Benefit Center. Ms. Folk is part of Simsbury’s “First Responders Team” as the volunteer coordinator for the business community for emergency civil preparedness. Originally from Fairfield, Ms. Folk studied public communications at Boston and Emerson Universities and has a Bachelor of Science degree in speech. Charity is a resident of Simsbury and together with her husband, Mike Girard, share in the lives of their 8 children and three grandchildren.