Visionary Leader

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Recently, I helped build, brand, and lead a newly merged chamber of two counties and the economic development council.  The challenge?  Migrate a thousand members, grow the franchise, and fulfill on our new mission to be the voice of the business community.  How did we accomplish it?   Visionary leadership.

When it comes right down to it, every idea, every economic development initiative, every membership-driven program, every public policy issue, and every business transaction requires the right people leading by example, with courage, and for the right cause.  It takes a vision and someone gutsy enough to see it through.  Chambers of commerce have the potential, with the right leaders, to create that vision and implement it.  What does the vision look like?  To me it means building an environment in our respective communities that fosters economic growth.  A true leader will then nurture and protect that business environment.

That is where I come in. For the past ten years, I have mixed the above elements into my executive chamber work for both the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce (from 1300 to 2000 members) and One Southern Indiana (800 to 1200 members). I have lead recent initiatives to implement lean processes, develop appropriate funding mechanisms, and find the right people to sustain growth. I have also labored to gel communities, create new business and entrepreneurial programs, promote mission statements, develop black-operating budgets (quite fashionable these days), and explore new avenues of revenue. During my tenure as a chamber executive, both associations reached unprecedented levels of membership, brand awareness, and funding. I have secured close to 3,000 new members, averaged 85% retention rate, and achieved $800,000 in non dues revenue collectively. see video