Buy Tickets Now for Next Month’s Chamber Annual Dinner

NORWALK, Conn. — Those interested in attending the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Annual Dinner on Wednesday, May 7, are encouraged to purchase their tickets now. 

Around 150 to 175 people are expected to attend the Annual Dinner, which will take place at Shore and Country Club, 220 Gregory Boulevard, from 5 to 8:30 p.m.

Along with ample opportunity to network, the evening will include a talk from guest speaker Austin McChord, the founder of Norwalk-based Datto, Inc., a data backup and disaster recovery company. 

The cost for chamber members (and nonmembers) to attend the Annual Dinner, which includes a cocktail hour and choice of dinner (filet mignon or a vegetarian option), is $150 per person or $1,500 for a table of 10. 

“It’s a great opportunity to get out and meet a lot of people, and we are excited to showcase Shore and Country—they always do such a nice job for us—and to just let people hear what is going on in Norwalk,” said Chamber President and CEO Shannon O’Toole Giandurco. 

She added that the venue has “a beautiful water view,” which is fitting since “part of McChord’s presentation is going to be about Manresa Island and we will be able to see the island from Shore and Country, so that will be great.”

The island, the former site of a power plant, is being renovated into a community park by McChord and his wife Allison.

“I think people will really love getting to hear about the project directly from him, live and in person,” said O’Toole Giandurco. “There will be beautiful images showing his vision and everything, but I think for the business community, it will be great to hear it from him and his passion and what he envisions it looking like in the future.”

O’Toole Giandurco will also make some brief remarks during the event. 

“My board chair and I will do a little year-in-review speech, just some opening comments to discuss where the chamber is and where we plan to go, because this is coming up on my first year as president, so just all that we have done and what we plan to do in the future,” she added.

The chamber—whose new year started on April 1—has “a lot on our docket for the coming year,” added O’Toole Giandurco.

“We do two networking events every month, so we have a lot scheduled for the coming year … we have our golf tournament coming up on June 23, and on June 4, we have our Small Business Awards,” she said.

The Greater Norwalk Chamber has about 600 active members, many of whom will be represented at the dinner on May 7.

“This is my first Annual Dinner as president, but in the past, it has sold out so we are excited for it to do so again this year,” said O’Toole Giandurco, adding that anyone interested in attending is encouraged to register ASAP. 

When it comes to where everyone sits at the Annual Dinner, O’Toole Giandurco said that, beyond the reserved tables of 10, the chamber does its best to “make sure that we put people together who will benefit from sitting together.”

She added, “A huge part of the chamber is networking, connecting people who should be working together, so we would definitely take a look at what organization they’re from and see where we can best place them.”

O’Toole Giandurco stressed that “anybody is welcome” at the Annual Dinner. “It’s not restricted to just members by any means,” she said. “We get people who are interested sometimes in just our guest speaker coming in.”

Kristin Okesson, immediate past chair of the chamber (Robert King of King Industries became the new chair April 1), said she most enjoys “the incredible sense of community” that the dinner creates. 

“It’s one of the few times each year where leaders from every corner of Norwalk—business owners, nonprofit leaders, elected officials and community partners—come together in one room to celebrate what makes this city special. It’s an evening filled with great energy, networking, and a real appreciation for the collaborative spirit that defines Norwalk,” continued Okesson, who is SVP of Connecticut operations at Connoisseur Media. 

“To anyone considering attending, I’d say this: the chamber’s Annual Dinner is more than just a dinner—it’s an opportunity to connect and reaffirm your place in Norwalk’s thriving business and civic community,” she added. “Whether you’ve been a part of the chamber for years or are looking to get more involved, it’s a night you don’t want to miss. It’s also an opportunity to meet the new leadership at the chamber—I am so proud of the work Shannon and Kevin [Wing, director of membership] are doing.”

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit greaternorwalkchamber.com.