Purcell to promote Middlebury

MIDDLEBURY — The Better Middlebury Partnership (BMP) on Monday announced the hiring of resident John Purcell to the newly created position of marketing coordinator.
Purcell, 60, has lived in Middlebury 33 years and has a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Vermont. He brings more than 20 years of experience teaching marketing, advertising and e-commerce as a tenured professor at Castleton State College. Prior to that, he owned an advertising and graphic design company in Middlebury. His clients included Otter Creek Awnings, the Addison County Parent-Child Center, the Memorial Sports Center fund-raising committee, and the Vermont Air National Guard.
Purcell also worked for Simmonds Precision in Vergennes, now known as Goodrich Corp.
“John brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this position and we are excited to have him,” said Donna Donahue, BMP board president.
Purcell and his wife, Kathryn, a teacher at Mary Hogan Elementary School, have two grown children.
“I am very excited about this position,” said Purcell, who will officially come on board in mid-July. “I’m looking forward to using my marketing skills with the BMP to reach more people in Middlebury and to support our business community.”
Donahue said Purcell was one of more than 70 applicants for the marketing job. BMP and town officials interviewed 10 of those applicants. Purcell’s name ultimately rose to the top.
“John fit the bill for everybody,” Donahue said. “He has a terrific understanding of the role marketing plays in driving the local economy.”
The BMP will introduce Purcell at its annual meeting, slated for Wednesday, June 22, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at American Flatbread in the Marble Works complex.
It was at town meeting this past March that Middlebury residents agreed to spend $25,000 toward a marketing coordinator charged with promoting the town as a destination for shoppers and tourists. Purcell will also help promote some of the BMP’s annual special events, including the Chili Fest and the upcoming Middlebury Summer Fest, which will hold its inaugural run on Aug. 6.
The 60-percent position is also being financed by $10,000 from the Middlebury Downtown Improvement District Commission, $5,000 through Middlebury College, and $5,000 in in-kind contributions from the BMP.
Purcell is eager to get started.
“It will allow me to put my experience to use in a great setting,” Purcell said. “It helps me make the place I live a better place.”
Reporter John Flowers is at [email protected].

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