by Deirdre Woodbyrne | May 26, 2016 | All Chapters, Blog, In The News, News, Press Releases

Dear Friends-

In the months following the successful Irish Network USA National Conference in November, 2015, a specially created subcommittee developed a plan designed to support our anticipated future growth.

The discussions centered mainly around how Irish Network USA could best continue to achieve our mission of being the premier organization committed to connecting the Global Irish across the United States through business, culture, education and sport.

You will continue to hear more some exciting changes to INUSA:

·         increasing opportunities to strengthen our Network regionally

·         Launching a national fundraising plan to help fund continued growth

·         Implementing a more structured approach to launching new chapters

First, we are excited to introduce you to our newly elected Board Officers:

Steve Lenox – President

Steve splits his time between New Jersey and Cork where, along with his wife Aoife, he is raising three boys, Conor, Cian and Dylan.

Since Steve was first elected in 2012, Irish Network USA has grown to 21 chapters, hosted three national conferences and grown their web presence significantly. During this time, Irish Network USA has become the standard bearer for efforts to engage the “Global Irish” through business, culture, education and sport.

Among the highlights of his time in this position are attending chapter events in cities across the US including Atlanta, Chicago, Houston and Cleveland, speaking at the inaugural Global Irish Civic Forum, attending the third Global Irish Economic Forum and connecting to “so many great leaders across the US, and the globe, all proud of their connections to Ireland.

Steve is the President of Lenox Consulting, a full service strategic communications firm providing public affairs, government relations and business development services to a variety of clients in both the US and Ireland. Representative clients include William Fry and Ecanvasser, as well as the NJ State FMBA and Jersey City POBA.

Sean Moynihan – Vice President

Attorney Sean P. Moynihan is the founder and principal of The Moynihan Group, LLC, a Boston based law firm specializing in government relations, corporate law, and transatlantic ventures.

He is a 1992 cum laude graduate of Providence College and a 2001 cum laude graduate of Suffolk University Law School’s evening division program.  He was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in January of 2002.

He spent over a decade working in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as Counsel to the House Ways and Means Committee and Counsel to the House Majority Leader.

His firm builds and executes strategies for companies and organizations in need of government relations and public affairs counsel by encompassing legislative, regulatory, procurement and business development advocacy. The firm also represents Irish companies and organizations seeking to establish or expand operations in the United States including legal and compliance services as well as relationship facilitation within the business, government and academic arenas.  Likewise, the firm represents American companies seeking to establish or expand operations into Ireland and Irish companies and organizations working to identify targets of foreign direct investment.

Attorney Moynihan is a current board member and past President of Irish Network Boston (IN Boston) and is currently Vice President of Irish Network USA (IN USA). He also serves on the

Irish International Immigrant Center’s (IIIC) Internship Advisory Panel working to identify employers for the J-1 visa holders.   In the past, he served as Vice President for Global Partnerships of the Boston Irish Business Association [BIBA], a “Connector” with the former Boston World Partnerships (BWP) non-profit organization and as a trustee of the Irish Pastoral Centre  in Boston.

Maura Clare – Treasurer

Maura Clare is originally from Fairfield, Connecticut, where ancestors from Counties Clare and Cavan (and France and England) settled. Now a resident of Boulder, Colorado, Clare is a communications and event management consultant.

Over the last 20 years, she has shepherded a wide variety of memorable, distinctive events, including international conferences attended by thousands, keynote addresses, musical and dramatic performances, receptions honoring dignitaries, intimate private celebrations, educational forums, and political programs.

In 2010 Maura help establish Irish Network Colorado and has been a driving force behind its continued growth. During this time Maura has served as Vice President and President of IN-CO and has also represented the chapter on the National Board of INUSA. Through her leadership, considerable networking skills and organizational prowess, Maura has helped Denver welcome several high profile guests including Ireland’s Ambassador to the EU, Daniel O’Sullivan, Ireland’s past Ambassador to the US, Michael Collins, and former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese.

Rachel McCormac – Secretary

Rachel McCormac is a native Dubliner and has been involved with IN Chicago for the past 12 years.  She became President of Ireland Network Chicago in May 2015. Rachel came to Chicago in 2003, at the height of the Celtic Tiger economic boom in Ireland.  She left her role as Marketing Director at Douglas Newman Good to come to Chicago and live the American Dream.  Over a decade later and she is helping others to “Build Dreams” through Artane Construction, the company she operates with her husband which specializes in general contracting, project management and design.

On arriving in Chicago, Rachel focused herself on creating a social and business network in Chicago.  Rachel believes that to create a successful and happy life in a foreign country, you must make a concerted effort to become involved both in the local and the Irish communities.

Rachel is a born organizer and was President of the Old St Mary’s Parents Council where she directly contributed to the fundraising and organizing of their Gala Ball raising over $150,000.

Rachel is a keen runner / walker and has completed the 39 mile Avon walk for Breast Cancer twice.

Rachel returns to Ireland every year to visit family and visit parts of Ireland that she has never been to before.  She takes a keen interest in the economic and political situation in Ireland.

Rachel lives in Bridgeport, Chicago with her husband Simon and son James.

“IN Chicago is a business network of both suits and boots, a network of Irish, Irish American and those with an affinity to Ireland. It’s not all about business, it’s a link to Ireland, a support network to the new Irish and the old Irish, an opportunity to embrace our Irish heritage and use it to our best advantage for our business and social networks” said Rachel at their Annual Black Tie Ball in February 2016 which was attended by over 340 Irish and Irish Americans from Chicago.
We are delighted to have our 2016 INUSA official board of Executive Officers up and running. There is no doubt that Steve, Sean, Rachel and Maura will do an excellent job in their new positions and we are excited to have this fantastic group lead INUSA in 2016 and indeed for our annual Conference in September.