Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, August 16, 2019 “Keep Saugus something special” Former Saugus Chamber of Commerce executive director says he is on a six-month mission to revive it By Mark E. Vogler R oute 1 businessman and marketing specialist Richard J. DeSanctis Jr. declared himself back this week as a key component of what he hopes will be a new and improved Saugus Chamber of Commerce. DeSanctis, 50, a 1987 Saugus High School graduate, said he has agreed to take on the Chamber’s job as interim executive director – but not to stay much longer than six months. “If Saugus has a strong $3.39 $2.44GALLONGALLON We accept: MasterCard * Visa * & Discover Price Subject to Change without notice 100 Gal. Min. 24 Hr. Service 781-286-2602 Chamber of Commerce, it helps the town,” DeSanctis said in an interview this week. “There is a benefit for me as a businessperson for doing this. But I’m not doing this for the money,” he said. “I’m strictly on commission and I don’t get paid if the Chamber doesn’t make any money. And I would like to walk away from this in six months with their hiring a full-time executive director.” Richard J. DeSanctis Jr. DeSanctis said he remembers how good things were 15 years ago when he was still executive director of the Chamber. “When I left, there were about 350 to 380 people. It saddens me to see the Chamber in the shape it’s become. I’d hate to see the Chamber fall apart,” DeSanctis said. “I intend to reach out to everyone on the North Shore. It benefits other towns to have a stable and strong Chamber in Saugus,” he said. DeSanctis said his shortterm position was approved this week by the Chamber’s Board of Directors. DeSanctis said he became executive director of the Chamber on Sept. 11, 2001, and held the position until May of 2004. “Fundraising, Marketing, Public Relations, Government Affairs were a few of my tasks,” he recalled of the experience on his LinkedIn website. “During my last year at the Chamber I, along with my board had the opportunity to play a huge role in the Saugus American Little League fundraising effort. The Chamber spearheaded a marketing campaign like none other. During that summer we were on local TV nightly, reporting on our boys from Saugus, Ma. Our greatest accomplishment that summer was the raising of funds for the boys and their families. That number exceeded $100,000.00.” DeSanctis is presently the President and CEO of RouteOneOriginal.com – Marketing Group and R.J. DeSanctis Entertainment. Delivery truck gets a lift after driver crashes down embankment The driver of an Amazon delivery truck escaped serious injury when he failed to navigate a turn properly on Lewis Street on Saturday night, hit a telephone pole and drove his vehicle down an embankment in between two houses. Rescue crews responding to the scene freed the man from his damaged van, and he was taken to Melrose-Wakefield Hospital for treatment of injuries that weren’t considered serious. G&J Towing used a crane to hoist the van and lower it onto Lewis Street. Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate by Lt. Damian Drella of the Saugus Fire Department) Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lein * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 Lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net
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