The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce has named its 2012-2013 board of directors and appointed Linda Brandt of LB Marketing Services as chair.
Brandt was inducted during the Chamber’s 115th Annual Meeting held June 21 at the U.S. Cellular Center and succeeds outgoing chair, LaVoy Spooner of AT&T.
The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce has named its 2012-2013 board of directors and appointed Linda Brandt of LB Marketing Services as chair.
Brandt was inducted during the Chamber’s 115th Annual Meeting held June 21 at the U.S. Cellular Center and succeeds outgoing chair, LaVoy Spooner of AT&T.
"The Asheville chamber understands the benefit of encouraging business growth and development. And it is done with the rare virtue of small town hospitality." said Brandt.
Emphasizing that the Chamber is here to support all businesses from small to large to startups to expanding businesses, Brandt also said, "As we build upon the tremendous successes over the last 12 months, we will continue to focus on our priorities -tourism, business advocacyand job creation."
In addition to Brandt as Chair, the following were named as the Chamber’s executive committee:
• Dana Stonestreet, HomeTrust Bank, First Vice Chair
• Ben Hamrick, Johnson, Price & Sprinkle, Second Vice Chair
• LaVoy Spooner, AT&T, Immediate Past Chairman
• Tracy Buchanan, CarePartners, Secretary
• Suzanne DeFerie, Asheville Savings Bank,Treasurer/Vice Chair Economic Development
• Kit Cramer, President & CEO of the Asheville Chamber
• Michelle Rippon, Constangy, Brooks & Smith, Legal Counsel
• Pat Carver, First Citizens, Chair of the Audit Committee
The following members will serve on the executive committee as department vice chairs:
• Himanshu Karvir, Holiday Inn Biltmore West, Vice Chair for the Convention and Visitors Bureau
• 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
Rounding out the 2012-2013 Chamber Board of Directors are:
• Mark Treffinger, Linamar
• Mike Rangel, Asheville Pizza & Brew
• Lach Zemp, Roberts & Stevens
• Martha Thompson, Progress Energy
• Chris Silliman, First Restoration Services
• Lou Bissette, McGuire, Wood & Bissette
• Darryl Hart, Hart Funeral Service
• Carolyn Coward, Van Winkle Law Firm
• Dr. Hank Dunn, A-B Tech
• Hunter Goosmann, Education and Research Consortium of the Western Carolinas
• Stefan Magura, Blue Ridge Bone & Joint Clinic, P.A.
• Andrew Nagle, A-B Emblem
• Dr. Ron Paulus, Mission Health System
• Robby Russell, Wells Fargo Bank
Ex-Officio voting members are:
• K. Ray Bailey, Buncombe County Commissioner
• Ron Morin, The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa
• Ben VanCamp, Asheville-Buncombe Regional Sports Commission
Ex-Officio Non-Voting Members are:
• Terry Bellamy, Mayor, City of Asheville
• David Gantt, Chairman, Buncombe County Commission
The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce is a member organization with over 1,800 member businesses and organizations. Chamber members collaborate with community organizations and coalitions to support the community and each other with the mission of building community through business. The Chamber is home to a 4,000 square foot Visitor Center which welcomes over 195,000 visitors per year.
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Media Contact: Erin Leonard, Director of Communications, 828-258-6131, editor@ashevillechamber.org