When you meet Michael J. Sullivan, Executive Director of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, you immediately sense his energy, optimism, and deep love for community. With more than 40 years of experience in business, marketing, and economic development, Sullivan has helped shape the economic landscape of the Hudson Valley and Pike County — and he’s still passionate about the work every single day.
“I just love it,” he said with a smile. “I’m dealing with a gentleman right now who’s looking to bring a medical services business to Pike County. We’ve been scouting sites, reviewing financing, and analyzing data. It’s interesting work — interacting with people, helping them — and it doesn’t cost them anything. That’s what makes it so rewarding.”
From the Bronx to Pike County: A journey of service and growth
Born in the Bronx, Sullivan’s path to leadership was anything but conventional. “I was in the Vietnam War,” he recalled. “When I came home, I couldn’t afford to buy a house on Staten Island, so my wife and I moved up here in 1971.”
After serving six years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Sullivan went back to school and graduated from college at the age of 31 with a degree in business management. “I was interested in business because I always thought business gave me the most opportunity — and it did,” he said.
That decision led him into a remarkable career. Over the years, Sullivan served as Executive Director of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce and President of the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development, before joining Pike County in 2012.
Success
You are now signed up for our newsletter
Success
Check your email to complete sign up
“I graduated at 31, and my first big opportunity was becoming head of the Chamber of Commerce in Orange County,” he said. “That was my introduction to this type of work — and I was very lucky to get that job.”
Helping communities grow and thrive
Throughout his career, Sullivan has been deeply involved in bringing new opportunities to local communities. One of his favorite success stories is Econo-Pak, a company he helped recruit from New Jersey to Pike County.
“They started with about 200 employees,” he said proudly. “Now they have 650. They bought a building, expanded it, leased part of it, and then needed all of it for themselves. They’re now adding another 125,000 square feet — and still have room to grow. That’s one of my favorite projects.”
Another major milestone came during his time in Sullivan County. “Everyone said we’d never get distribution centers there,” he recalled. “But we did. The Kohl’s Northeast Distribution Center in Wurtsboro was a big win.”
Over the years, Sullivan has helped launch countless projects — from manufacturing sites to healthcare facilities. “We opened a 70-bed nursing home that created 125 jobs,” he said. “That was something the community really needed.”
A thriving and changing Pike County
Since Sullivan joined the Pike County Chamber in 2012, the county has seen steady growth. “When I came here, there were about 880 businesses,” he said. “Now there are between 1,000 and 1,100. That’s a big change — and we needed it.”
He attributes much of this growth to people moving from New York and New Jersey in search of affordable housing and a better quality of life. “We’re the fastest growing county in Pennsylvania,” he said. “People come because they like it here — it’s safe, rural, and family-friendly. I’ve lived in the same house for 54 years, and I’ve seen generations grow up there. My kids, my grandkids, and now my great-granddaughter — all here.”
But growth also brings challenges. “The population increase is raising the cost of housing and rent,” he noted. “We’re now the fifth highest county in Pennsylvania for rent. So we’re working to attract more doctors, build a new hospital, and invest in a new career and technical school. These are priorities for the community’s future.”
Lessons from a lifetime of leadership
When asked what has guided him through such a long and successful career, Sullivan doesn’t hesitate: “The Marines taught me everything I needed to know,” he said. “When you’re in a frightening situation, you have to learn to keep your composure. I still try to do that in life — stay calm and focused.”
His advice to young professionals is simple but powerful: “Love what you do. If you don’t love it, don’t do it. There’s a famous flutist who walks on stage, holds up his gold flute, and says, ‘Thanks be to God, because of this I’ve never had to work a day in my life.’ When you love your work, it’s not work.”
Community at the Heart
For Sullivan, “community” is not an abstract idea — it’s something he lives every day. “It’s everything,” he said. “It’s the environment where you live, how you view home. I love going to the diner at lunchtime, seeing friends, talking with people. That’s what community is — being connected, taking care of each other.”
Even after decades of service, his passion remains as strong as ever. “I’m 79 this November,” he said, smiling. “And I’m very happy to still be working. I love what I do — and I feel lucky to be able to do it every day.”
