Chamber Names 2011-2012 Board of Directors

Contact: Marissa Jamison
Director of Communications
(828) 258-6131
mjamison@ashevillechamber.org

ASHEVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCES 2011-2012 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce has named its 2011-2012 board of directors and appointed LaVoy Spooner, external affairs regional director at AT&T North Carolina, as chairman.

Spooner was inducted during the Chamber’s 114^th Annual Meeting held June 30 at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa and succeeds outgoing chair, Alice Oglesby of io design & illustration. During his tenure as chairman, Spooner plans to engage a broader array ofthe Chamber’s membership in the many quality programs that the organizationoffers. Spooner will also place an emphasis on leading the Chamber in efforts to convene its membership on public policy issues that impact the local business community.

Spooner will serve with the following members of the Chamber’s executive committee:

Alice Oglesby, io design & illustration, Immediate Past Chair

Linda Brandt, LB Marketing Services, First Vice Chair

Dana Stonestreet, HomeTrust Bank, Second Vice Chair and Chair of the Audit Committee

Ben Hamrick, Johnson, Price & Sprinkle, Treasurer

Bob Kendrick, Kendrick & Associates, Secretary

Michelle Rippon, Constangy, Brooks & Smith, Legal Counsel

Kit Cramer, President & CEO of the Asheville Chamber     

In addition, the following members will serve on the executive committee as department vice chairs:

Lynn Carlson, 1900 Inn on Montford, Vice Chair for the Convention and Visitors Bureau

Suzanne DeFerie, Asheville Savings Bank, Vice Chair for Economic Development

John Miles, integritive, Inc., Vice Chair for Member Services and Communications

David Phillips, Pike Real Estate Development, Vice Chair for Public Policy

Carol Rovello, Strategic Workplace Solutions, Vice Chair for Small Business and Entrepreneurship

The remaining members of the board of directors for 2011-2012 are:

David Bailey, United Way of Asheville & Buncombe County

George Briggs, The North Carolina Arboretum

Tracy Buchanan, CarePartners Health Services

Carolyn Coward, Van Winkle Law Firm

Dr. Hank Dunn, A-B Tech

Hunter Goosmann, Education and Research Consortium of the Western Carolinas

Himanshu Karvir, Holiday Inn Biltmore West

Stefan Magura, Blue Ridge Bone & Joint Clinic, P.A.

Andrew Nagle, A-B Emblem

Dr. Ron Paulus, Mission Health System

Chuck Pickering, Biltmore

Dr. Anne Ponder, UNC Asheville

Robby Russell, Wachovia Bank

Wendy Whitson, River District Artists

John Wirtz, Eaton Corporation

Oscar Wong, Highland Brewing Company

Ex-Officio voting members of the board are:     

K. Ray Bailey, Buncombe County Commissioner and Chair of the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County

Ron Morin, The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa and Chair of the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority

For the first time, the Young Professionals of Asheville will have a seat on the board -- Travis Smuckler, The Van Winkle Law Firm and Chair of YPA

Ex-Officio non-voting members of the board are:

Terry Bellamy, Mayor of the City of Asheville

David Gantt, Chairman of the Buncombe County Commission

The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerceis a 2,000-member organization representing 86,000 employees.  Chamber members collaborate with community organizations and coalitions to support the community and each other with the mission of increasing the region’s livability by advancing its economic vitality.  The Asheville Chamber works diligently to ensure that Asheville continues to grow and prosper while also protecting the natural beauty of the area.  In 2006, the Chamber moved to a new location and is now home to the 4,000 square foot Visitor Center which welcomes 200,000 visitors per year.

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