Gateway Regional Chamber was established in 1911 and is the largest business association in Northern New Jersey with over 1,200 members ranging from Fortune 100 corporations to entrepreneurial businesses. The Chamber’s mission is to be a business organization which represents and advances the business interests of its members.  With a focus on serving members in Union, Essex, Middlesex and Somerset Counties, the Chamber is the only multi-county association in Northern and Central New Jersey.   The Gateway Regional Chamber has the unique structure of serving as an umbrella organization for over a dozen regional and local chambers and networking groups in its regional footprint.  Organizations that join the Gateway Regional Chamber automatically gain membership in each affiliate.  The Chamber presents over 180 events each year, including networking socials, educational business seminars, special interest group gatherings, gala award dinners, business expos, trade fairs, and local activities.  In addition, Gateway’s size allows the Chamber to negotiate savings on business services for members, such as credit card processing, telecommunications, training, health insurance, dental programs, and a wide range of other services. The organization is also focused as an effective advocate for the business community at a federal, state and local level.  The Chamber publishes Inside Business magazine, a quarterly news publication with an estimated readership of over 75,000.

Jim Coyle served as the Chamber’s CEO for over 26 years and stepped down at the end of 2022. The Board of Directors has therefore embarked on an executive search to recruit a new leader to guide the Chamber and its prominent business leadership activities within the region.  Website: www.gatewaychamber.com

President & Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) reports to the Chair of the 10-member Executive Committee of the Chamber’s 28-member Board of Directors.  Both the Executive Committee and the full Board meet monthly.  The CEO leads and directs the Chamber’s staff: Vice President, Operations Specialist, Marketing Coordinator and a contract Editor of Inside Business magazine.   Other important interactions include:  representatives and employees of Chamber member organizations; county and municipal elected and appointed officials; state and national elected officials and their staffs; representatives of other public and private sector organizations with related community and economic development missions; university, technical college and K-12 education officials; and members of the media.  The CEO is responsible for the comprehensive planning and operation of the organization including but not limited to: annual business plan; strategic plan; recruitment and motivation of volunteers; budget; employment, training and supervision of staff; advocacy; interpretation of policy; and other necessary functions of a highly effective chamber of commerce.  The CEO is the chief spokesperson of the Chamber and operates with a focus that includes public/member relations and advocacy activities.

Ideal candidate will bring 10+ years of progressively responsible experience, with a minimum of 4 years in senior leadership and may come from a variety of backgrounds such as, but not limited to: the top executive of a progressive and comparably sized chamber of commerce, or related significant business association; experience as a “second in command” or other senior-level executive at a larger like-enterprise as noted above; an executive with a strong record of community involvement from a complex private or public-sector entity.  Board interaction, experience leading large numbers of volunteers, and demonstrated experience overcoming challenges are all strongly desired. A Bachelor’s degree is required. If a candidate brings experience in the chamber industry, then a graduate of U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Organization Management or Certified Chamber Executive designation is desirable. 

About Gateway Regional Chamber c/o Waverly Partners

WAVERLY PARTNERS is a national retained executive search firm with consultants located in strategic regions across the country. We have been designated as the only "preferred provider" of executive search services by ACCE. WAVERLY PARTNERS is a generalist search firm, serving nationwide clients including chambers of commerce, economic development and other nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, Fortune 1000 service and manufacturing corporations, privately held entrepreneurial growth companies, hospitals and healthcare organizations, and professional service firms.

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