The former executive director of the Charles County Chamber of Commerce, ousted in May, has set up a new business advocacy organization with a former chamber staffer.

Former chamber head Ken Gould announced the creation of the Business Alliance of Charles County on Oct. 19 on its new website.

Gould is serving as the alliance’s president, while Tracey Harris, who resigned as chamber events director weeks after Gould’s firing, is vice president, they said.

To save money, it will not have an office for now, they said. A formal launch event will take place before the end of the year, and the alliance will publish its first directory in 2013.

The alliance will provide networking events, legislative advocacy and community service opportunities for businesses, some of which are similar to activities promoted by the chamber. But the groups will be differentiated by alliance emphases on service and on communication with members, Gould and Harris said.

“Instead of doing events, offering seminars and other educational things we think [members] want as the staff and leadership, we want to find out, instead of assuming we know what they want, we want to hear it from them,” Gould said, adding that “accountability” would distinguish the two groups.

“We are not here to bash the chamber. The chamber is what it is. I was speaking to somebody the other day who said, ‘Other people are going to say the alliance is to bash the chamber, organized by Ken Gould and Tracey Harris, and la la la.’ No. We understand we can’t change people’s perceptions by talking about it. We have to show them what we’re about: accountability, proactive listening to the community and service. … Does the chamber do some of that? Absolutely, but I foster no ill-will toward the chamber.”

The alliance will emphasize community service because charities are suffering in the poor economy, too, Gould said.

“We think that’s just one little niche we might be able to exploit. Again, a small group of us are trying to get this off the ground. We’re very committed to working with the nonprofits. Sometimes we forget when so-called for-profit businesses are struggling, the monies they would normally pass on to nonprofits are gone,” Gould said.

“It’s just going to be more open, transparent and welcoming. Not to say that the other people aren’t. I guess that’s kind of what I’m saying,” Harris said.

Another possible alliance project will be to set up a barter program for members to arrange to trade goods or, more likely, services with one another to help business continue when many are struggling and cash is tight, Gould said.

The group now has fewer than 10 members, Gould and Harris said, though they plan to hold a formal launch meeting to recruit more people.

A current alliance member is John Flatley, owner of the Chick-fil-A franchise in La Plata, who let his chamber membership lapse in the wake of Gould’s firing.

He joined the alliance because “any chance I get to connect with other business owners and professionals in Charles County, I’m going to take advantage of that great opportunity. I think Ken and Tracey are really good at connecting with businesses and understanding what the businesses’ needs are or Charles County, and I think they just bring a lot to the table and I’m going to be a part of that,” he said.

The presence of more than one business group in the county could only help both the alliance and the chamber, Flatley said.

“There’s always room. I think it would be a welcome opportunity for the county and I’ll just say this for the business alliance versus the chamber, and that is that I think in a number of cases in the world, if there is competition it’s a good thing,” Flatley said. “It certainly helps keep me on my toes that there are other good restaurants in the area and I can’t just relax and … decide I’m going to be [just] OK. I’m not inferring anything about anybody else, but I think it’s great to have more than one opportunity. It keeps things sharp, keeps you on your toes.”

Chamber President John Jilek said he welcomed the competition and didn’t think the alliance would entice any chamber members away.

“I think there’s always going to be newcomers to area business organizations. I have no issue with that. I think it’s good. In the area alone you have numerous business networking organizations. … Anything that gets businesses involved and out of their comfort zone in a positive way to help them grow and develop new business is a good thing,” Jilek said.

Both Gould and Jilek suggested their organizations might collaborate in the future.

“Are we going to be in competition with the chamber? Yeah, we will, but I frankly think there will be some members who are members of both the chamber and the alliance, and that’s just great. If there are opportunities down the line to partner, I don’t know how anxious they would be,” but the alliance would, Gould said.

emitrano@somdnews.com