Our Team at Athlone Chamber
Our Team
The team here at Athlone Chamber of Commerce is made up of an Office Team and Board members. Our office team has a Chief Executive Officer, Office administrator and Digital Marketing Executive while our Board Members comprises of a President, Vice President and regular members.
Meet the team below!
Board Members
Regina Bushell
President
Contact: president@athlonechamber.ie
Managing Director at Grovelands Childcare
Regina Bushell is a proud Athlone business woman who owns and operates the multi award winning early education centres Grovelands Childcare which has 6 centres across the midland towns of Athlone, Tullamore and Mullingar.
Grovelands employs 120 early years professionals and provides service to over 700 families on a weekly basis. Regina is an advisor on the early years sector and sits on the Early Years Forum and many of its subgroups in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
She is also a member of Childhood Services Ireland a trade association within IBEC. Regina is the Director the RTE All Ireland Drama Festival and is also a member of the board of Athlone Festival & Events Project Group.
Mel McGerr
Vice President
MMA Architects
As Registered Architect, and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, Mel has over 20 years of extensive experience in the design and complex construction projects. Mel has been a Director of MMA Architects since 2012, designed building in the residential, office, healthcare educations, sports and hospitality sectors.
Notable projects include the design of Laboratory and Office facilities for Analog Devices, and the Irish Life Sciences building in Athlone which won an International Design Award for Technical Excellence in 2023.
As well as his professional role, Mel has worked as a part time Lecturer at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) delivering modules on Information Management relating to BIM in infrastructure.
Alan Shaw
Board Member
Shaw Commercials Group
Alan has over 25 year’s experience as a Chartered Accountant, having worked in Practice for over 20 years and 6 years in industry where he is Chief Financial Officer with Shaw Commercials.
A member of Westmeath County Council Audit Committee since 2016, Alan’s experience includes audit, taxation, banking, and finance. As a trusted advisor, Alan hopes to advance the interests of Athlone Chamber in building the membership and alliances in a business world that has changed dramatically.
A former Mayor of Athlone and former Member of Athlone Town Council, Alan understands the workings of Local Government, and this is key to advancing business together in Athlone.
David Ganly
Board Member
Future Learning Language School
David is the director of Ed-Tech Language School Future learning, renowned for their innovative approach to language education specialising in STEAM & 21st Century Skills.
David’s educational background includes holding a B.Ed. from the University of Limerick, Ireland and MSc. in Technology & Learning from Trinity College Dublin.
David has been involved in the development of the ICT (Information Communication Technology) courses for second level education in Ireland and he has also been involved in many educational projects gaining worldwide recognition.
Brian Feeney
Board Member
RBK Chartered Accountants
An Associate member of Chartered Accountants Ireland, Brian specialises in assurance and business advisory services for large indigenous and international companies.
Brian has carried out due diligence for multinational companies across multiple jurisdictions including the BRIC and EMEA countries and has worked on significant corporate structures and restructures.
A founding member of RBK’s International Desk, he has significant experience in assisting foreign direct investment companies setting up operations in Ireland. Brian is an Economics graduate (TCD) and has been a Partner in RBK since 2011.
Bernard Tao Cui
Board Member
Technological University of the Shannon
Bernard Tao Cui serves as the Head of Department of Accounting and Business Computing at Technological University of the Shannon, Midland Campus.
Graduating from the college in 2009, since then, Bernard has been working part-time for the Department in a tutor and lecturer capacity for more than 15 years.
Additionally, Bernard has worked full-time as an accountant, accumulating extensive experience across diverse industries and accounting practices throughout his career. He is recognised as a Fellow Chartered and Certified Accountant.
John McGrath
Board Member
MD, MMKDA Consulting Engineers
John has 30 years’ experience in the construction industry. In private practice for 25 years John has project managed a large number of residential, commercial and industrial developments.
He has extensive experience in guiding clients through the planning process and ensuring the efficient management of projects through to completion.
John is currently immediate past President of Athlone Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He considers the contribution of Athlone Chamber to the lobbying carried out for the designation of Athlone as a Regional Centre of Growth as the Chambers most significant success over the last 5 years. Athlone was first identified as a centre for such designation in 1968.
MMKDA Consulting Engineers which John runs continues to provide a wide range of services which relate to property where building or planning services are required.
Garrett Mc Guinness
Board Member
General Manager at Sheraton Athlone Hotel
Garret has been with the Sheraton Hotel Athlone for over four years as Managing Director. Garretts has a track record in delivering quality hotel product and achieving key awards for Sheraton Athlone Hotel.
Garrett has substantial experience attained in senior positions in the hospitality industry nationally and internationally as well as in his studies at GMIT Galway in Hotel and Catering Management.
Leah Cullen
Board Member
Ericsson
Leah is part of the Ericsson’s Athlone site Leadership team and heads up a unit in Ireland responsible for the delivery of our next generation Cloud RAN product.
Leah has over 20 years’ experience in
delivery complex software projects and most recently has been in senior leadership roles within Ericsson, spending about 5 years together with her family working in Ericsson’s headquarters in Sweden.
Leah is an Athlone native and so brings the desire to work within the chamber to ensure
that both the future of Ericsson and Athlone is bright.
Paul Sweeney
Board Member
Paul Sweeney serves as the Director of Manufacturing & Engineering at Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Richard O'Hara
Board Member
Managing Director at Baysports
Richard O’Hara is the Managing Director at Baysports – Ireland’s largest Inflatable Waterpark, Board Member of the IAAT and he is on the Board of Directors of Athlone Chamber of Commerce.
Richard has been involved in operations at Baysports since 2017. He studied Product Design in DIT and followed on his studies by completing a Masters in Tourism Management in TUS. His drive shows his well rounded nature and ability to connect with diverse groups of people.
He is passionate about developing Athlone and the surrounding areas as a great place to live, work and visit.
Cherise O'Moore
Board Member
Cherise O’Moore DBS CIP MDI
Gateway Insurance and Investments
Cherise is a Commercial Account Executive for New Commercial Business in Gateway Insurance (Howden Ireland). She studied Business in University College Dublin and graduated from The Insurance Institute with a Higher Diploma in Insurance Management in 2021. She has considerable experience working with both local and London Market insurers, in Ireland and the UK.
Additionally, Cherise works as a Teacher in AKT Stage School providing Singing and Theatre Performance education, having trained in Classical and Musical Theatre Performance from a young age. She is the Vice-Chairperson of the Athlone Musical Society, who organise annual events that heavily support local trade and connection.
Having been involved in many fundraising projects over the past ten plus years, from planning and management to direction and production, Cherise brings a wealth of Event Organisation as well as Insurance Industry experience.
Cherise is highly passionate about supporting and connecting local enterprise and community, and is looking forward to becoming more involved in this throughout her time with the Chamber.
Office Team
Tommy Hogan
Chief Executive Officer
Contact: ceo@athlonechamber.ie
Tommy has an abundance of experience in business having run his family business in Clara, Co. Offaly for many years. He has extensive knowledge of the food industry and trading foods internationally.
Tommy is skilled in the areas of customer service, business development and business strategy. Tommy has a degree in Business Studies awarded by the Institute of Public Administration as well as several other qualifications.
Sarah Jameson
Digital Marketing Officer
Contact: marketing@athlonechamber.ie
Sarah, serving as the digital marketing officer for the Athlone Chamber, holds a degree in Sales and Digital Marketing from IADT, equipping her with invaluable insights into marketing strategies and digital platforms. With a background in sales, Sarah brings a wealth of experience that complements her expertise in digital marketing.
Sarah plays a key role as the social media manager for Athlone.ie and the Athlone Musical Society, where she oversees content creation and engagement strategies. Her contributions highlight her creativity and proficiency in leveraging digital platforms to enhance visibility and engagement.
In her capacity at the Chamber, Sarah focuses on crafting and implementing effective marketing campaigns, managing digital platforms, and optimizing outreach strategies. Her dedication to enhancing the Chamber’s online presence and engaging stakeholders underscores her proactive approach and commitment to driving impactful results.
Sarah’s blend of academic achievement and practical experience makes her a dynamic asset to the Athlone Chamber, ensuring impactful contributions to its marketing initiatives and overall strategic objectives.
Ciarán Wykes
Office Assistant
Contact: info@athlonechamber.ie
Ciarán is a Bachelor of International Business student at TUS Athlone, currently in his third year. His academic pursuits are complemented by a keen interest in marketing, digital innovation, and contemporary business challenges, which he eagerly integrates into practical applications.
Ciarán’s professional journey began in the marketing department of Homestore + More, where he gained extensive experience in social media and digital marketing. He played an active role in promoting products across platforms such as Meta and TikTok, utilising these tools to maximise brand engagement both in-store and online. His contributions included leading market research initiatives, conducting in-depth competitor analysis, and developing strategies to achieve optimal marketing results.
Demonstrating a collaborative spirit, Ciarán worked closely with the design and photography teams, assisting with photoshoots and ensuring that sets were perfectly staged to highlight the company’s offerings. Additionally, he took the lead on the redesign of Homestore + More’s own brands, showcasing his ability to drive innovative projects that align with market trends.
Ciarán brings over two years of customer service experience, which has honed his interpersonal skills and deepened his understanding of consumer behaviour. Growing up in Athlone, he is passionate about contributing to the growth and success of the town’s economy. His academic background, which includes studying French, further equips him with a global perspective and adaptability in international business contexts.
In his future role with the Chamber, Ciarán seeks to apply his skills in digital marketing, market research, and event coordination to support its initiatives effectively. His proactive mindset and commitment to excellence make him a valuable asset to any team.
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