New London — The New London St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee has chosen Catherine Mary Foley as the grand marshal of the 2020 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Foley is the granddaughter of Irish immigrants from the counties Galway, Roscommon and Kilkenny, a New London business owner and has led several civic organizations and initiatives. She is a past president of the Rotary Club of New London, founder of the New London Parks Conservancy, a founding member of the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut’s Southeast Women and Girls Fund and past secretary of the New London Beautification Committee, Ethics Commission, Democratic Town Committee and the New London Rotary Foundation.

Foley founded MeetingWorks, a consulting firm specializing in strategic corporate and nonprofit meetings, conferences, communications and organizational management.

She also is the former director of the Community Development Initiative of the New London Development Corporation and former executive director of Covenant Shelter of New London and the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Connecticut.

She currently serves as secretary of the City Center District Commission, on the Salvation Army advisory board and on the Soft Landing board of directors.

This year’s parade will be held at 1 p.m. March 15, beginning on Bank and Tilley streets and ending on Washington Street.

Organizations who want to register for this year’s parade or be a sponsor should contact Barbara J. Neff at bjneff1369@sbcglobal.net.