President and Chief Executive Officer

Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.

Overview

The Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce serves as a trusted hub for connection, advocacy, and economic vitality across the region. The Chamber’s mission is to unite and elevate a diverse business community, offering impactful programs and leadership that strengthen Sullivan County’s economic future.

Position Summary

The Chamber seeks a President and CEO who brings strategic insight, collaborative spirit, and operational excellence. Reporting to the Board Chair and Board of Directors, the President and CEO leads the organization’s mission, oversees daily operations, supervises and supports office staff, and ensures the effective delivery of programs and services. The President and CEO builds relationships with key stakeholders, elevates the Chamber’s visibility and influence, and maintains a regular on site presence during business hours while exercising significant scheduling flexibility. The role routinely requires evening meetings, early morning functions, weekend events and regional travel. The expectation is a minimum commitment of 40 hours per week to fulfill the responsibilities of the role.

This leader will quickly gain a deep understanding of Chamber history, membership, finances, programs, and community context. The ideal candidate is skilled in economic development, partnership building, membership engagement, and public advocacy. Experience working with elected officials, regional organizations, and diverse business sectors is highly valuable.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and External Relations

• Serve as the primary spokesperson and advocate for the Chamber.

• Advance the Chamber’s strategic plan and collaborate with the Executive Committee to establish and monitor organizational performance goals.

• Strengthen the Chamber’s visibility through media relations, public engagement, and consistent communication strategies.

• Promote the needs, successes, and challenges of member businesses and the broader business community.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with local governments, regional partners, and economic development entities.

• Represent the Chamber at community events, conferences, and public forums.

• Oversee organizational communications to ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment with mission and values.

Membership Development and Engagement

• Lead efforts to recruit, retain, and engage Chamber members.

• Collaborate with the Membership Committee to expand membership and strengthen member value.

• Identify opportunities to enhance member services, benefits, education, and programming.

• Encourage collaboration among members, elected officials, business partners, and neighboring chambers.

• Attend Membership, Events, Government Affairs and other standing committees as appropriate, with an expectation of participating at least once per quarter per committee, ensuring meaningful engagement without requiring attendance at every meeting.

Board Governance and Volunteer Relations

• Prepare and distribute Board agendas and meeting materials in accordance with bylaws.

• Provide timely reporting on organizational performance, finances, and emerging issues.

• Cultivate strong Board participation and support for Chamber initiatives.

• Partner with Board leadership to recruit and onboard new Board members and develop future leadership pipelines.

• Serve as the Chamber’s designated representative on the Chamber Foundation Board to ensure mission alignment, shared priorities, and effective communication between the Foundation and the Chamber.

Operational and Financial Management

• Collaborate with the Board Chair and Treasurer to develop annual budgets and support financial audits.

• Oversee day to day financial operations, including revenue forecasting, expense oversight, and cash flow management.

• Build and sustain relationships with major funders, sponsors, and community partners.

• Explore creative revenue opportunities including grants, sponsorships, partnerships, and new programming.

• Lead and support Chamber staff through effective supervision, coaching, and performance management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in business, marketing, communications, public administration, or a related field.

• Minimum of five years of leadership experience with responsibility for staff supervision, budgeting, and organizational development.

• Demonstrated success in business development, relationship building, and strategic growth.

• Strong communication skills with confidence in public speaking and media engagement.

• Proficiency in modern office technologies, CRM tools, and social media platforms.

• High ethical standards, sound judgment, and professionalism.

• Ability and willingness to maintain a flexible schedule, including evening meetings, early morning functions, weekend events and regional travel, as required by Chamber operations.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $60,000 to $80,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Application Instructions

Candidates should submit a resume and cover letter, including salary expectations, to the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce Presidential Search Committee at Chair@catskills.com