Posted: 16-Jun-26
Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Type: Full Time
Categories:
The Chamber
Located in Lexington, Kentucky, Commerce Lexington, with 1900 members, 22 staff, and a $4.8MM operating budget, serves as a key economic development driver for the Greater Lexington region. The organization represents many businesses across the Bluegrass region and focuses on economic growth, public policy, workforce development, entrepreneurship, leadership development, and regional competitiveness. Commerce Lexington combines traditional chamber functions with aggressive business recruitment and expansion strategies, giving it a broader regional role than many peer organizations.
The Position
The President & Chief Executive Officer is the chief executive and administrative officer of Commerce Lexington Inc. and serves as the leading voice for the Greater Lexington business community. The CEO formulates and executes strategic objectives that advance economic growth, support business success, and enhance quality of life, while providing overall leadership for operations, policy, and membership in partnership with the Board of Directors.
As the principal spokesperson and ambassador, the CEO represents the membership and fosters strong relationships across business, government, higher education, and civic sectors. This role requires balancing regional leadership on major initiatives with a strong commitment to the needs of small and mid-sized businesses, while driving organizational growth, engagement, and impact.
The President & CEO position of Commerce Lexington is an outstanding opportunity to lead and grow a successful combined economic development and chamber organization in a unique and welcoming “front porch” community led by an engaged and influential volunteer Board of Directors. Since 2004, with the merger of the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce, Lexington United, and the Lexington Partnership for Workforce Development, Commerce Lexington has sought to promote economic development, job creation, and overall business growth in Lexington and its neighboring communities, while strengthening existing businesses through the many programs and services it provides. The President & CEO will benefit from the community’s highly educated population and a city that balances traditional heritage with open-minded, forward-thinking growth, all intertwined with its deep equestrian identity. This new executive will have an opportunity to move this dynamic organization to an even higher level of influence and success in the years to come.
The Candidate
The ideal candidate must have a proven track record of senior leadership experience and may come from a variety of backgrounds such as: serving as the top executive within a progressive and comparably-sized Chamber of Commerce, or related significant business association, or economic development-focused organization; experience as a “#2” or other senior-level executive at a larger like enterprise as noted above; or an executive from a complex private or public sector entity. Significant Board interaction is strongly desired.
A bachelor’s degree or graduate degree in business, finance, law, public administration, or other discipline is preferred. However, any combination of advanced education, training, or lived and learned experience will be valued and considered.
If the candidate’s professional experience includes a background in the Chamber, association, or economic development industry, a graduate of the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Organization Management, a Certified Chamber Executive, a Certified Association Executive, a Certified Economic Developer, or another certification will be appreciated, but is optional.
Contacts
If you know an outstanding chamber of commerce or economic development executive or other business leader who meets these requirements and would be interested in evaluating this dynamic opportunity, please email:
CommerceLexington@Waverly-Partners.com
The full Position Profile is available upon request.
