Frederick County Chamber of Commerce – President & CEO

• President & Chief Executive Officer
• Frederick County Chamber of Commerce
• Filing Deadline: April 21, 2026

Please note: ​Applicants are asked not to contact the Chamber or members of the search committee regarding this opportunity. All submissions will be reviewed by the search committee and all applicants will be notified of their status.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY
The Frederick County Chamber of Commerce is the leading voice and convener for the regional business and nonprofit community. With a mission to create value for our members through leadership, education, advocacy and networking, and to move the business community forward by promoting shared interests, the Chamber plays a central role in advancing economic vitality and civic leadership.

As the Chamber enters its next strategic phase, the organization is focused on becoming more data-informed, digitally enabled, and member-centric while maintaining its role as a trusted advocate and civic institution.

The next President & CEO will inherit a respected and financially stable organization with a strong reputation, an engaged Board of Directors, and meaningful influence across the Frederick County business, nonprofit, and civic ecosystem.
The Chamber serves approximately 900 member organizations and operates with an annual budget of approximately $1.2 million. The organization is supported by a professional staff of 5 employees.

This leadership transition presents a unique opportunity to build on that foundation while modernizing the organization’s operating model, expanding its strategic impact, and strengthening its position as the one of the region’s largest and most influential business leadership organizations.

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
The Frederick County Chamber of Commerce is a member-driven 501(c)(6) organization dedicated to advancing a strong, vibrant, and resilient business community. The Chamber serves as a trusted advocate, connector, and leadership incubator for businesses, nonprofits, and community stakeholders across the region.

The Chamber’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan prioritizes:

• Advocacy and public policy leadership
• Business development and referral ecosystems
• Leadership development and civic engagement
• Data-driven thought leadership and insights
• Digital enablement and modern member experience
• Strategic partnerships and cross-sector collaboration

The next President & CEO will play a critical role in executing this strategy while ensuring the Chamber remains financially sustainable, operationally effective, and strategically relevant.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP
The President & CEO reports to and works in close partnership with the Board of Directors, ensuring alignment on strategic priorities while maintaining appropriate executive authority for organizational leadership and operational execution.

POSITION OVERVIEW
The President & Chief Executive Officer serves as the chief executive and strategic leader of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, responsible for advancing the Chamber’s mission by strengthening the business and nonprofit community through advocacy, connection, leadership development, and actionable insights.

Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the President & CEO provides visionary leadership, ensures organizational sustainability, and positions the Chamber as the region’s leading advocate, convener, and catalyst for economic vitality. The President & CEO is accountable for strategic execution, advocacy leadership, organizational performance, financial stewardship, member value delivery, and community impact.

This role requires a highly credible executive leader who combines strategic foresight with operational discipline and possesses the political acumen, relationship capital, and business judgment necessary to lead one of Frederick County’s most influential civic and economic institutions. The President & CEO is expected to serve as one of Frederick County’s most visible and influential business and civic leaders, actively shaping regional economic dialogue and representing the business community in high-level public, policy, and economic development discussions, while maintaining a critical balance between the public and private sector.

STRATEGIC MANDATE OF THE ROLE
The President & CEO is responsible for ensuring the Chamber achieves its strategic priorities, including:

• Serving as the leading advocate for the regional business and nonprofit community
• Driving membership recruitment, retention, and engagement strategies that deliver measurable business value through referrals, advocacy, leadership development, and actionable insights
• Cultivating and expanding high-impact investor and strategic partner relationships to strengthen long-term financial sustainability
• Providing disciplined financial leadership to ensure long-term organizational strength and revenue diversification
• Leading efforts to strengthen the Chamber’s visibility, credibility, and regional influence
• Leading organizational evolution to align with modern member expectations and operational best practices
• Positioning and representing the Chamber as the trusted convener and voice of Frederick County’s economic future

Required Experience
Candidates should possess:

• Significant for-profit or nonprofit senior executive leadership experience, preferably in a chamber of commerce, economic development organization, association, or related environment
• Demonstrated experience leading complex organizations with diverse stakeholders and revenue streams
• Proven success in developing and executing strategic plans
• Experience in advocacy, public policy, government relations, or community leadership
• Experience managing budgets, financial operations, and revenue generation
• Demonstrated success cultivating major sponsors, strategic partners, and high-level business relationships that drive organizational growth
• Visionary mindset with the ability to forecast and develop innovative initiatives leading the organization into the future

Technical and Executive Competencies
The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

Strategic and Organizational Leadership

• Strategic planning, execution, and organizational transformation
• Ability to foresee future trends and position the organization to be innovative and resilient
• Performance management and operational oversight
• Sound understanding of local and state ecosystems

Financial and Business Acumen

• Executive accountability for financial stewardship and long-term fiscal health
• Oversight of annual budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and long-range financial planning
• Revenue diversification and growth strategies
• Resource allocation and financial sustainability

Public Policy and Advocacy Leadership

• Government relations and public policy engagement
• Understanding of legislative and regulatory processes
• Ability to maintain neutrality (especially in public communication) and not allow personal political opinions to influence the opinion of the Chamber

External Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement

• Relationship management across business, nonprofit, and government sectors
• Public speaking, media engagement, and executive communications
• Regularly serving as the emcee and organizational spokesperson at Chamber-sponsored and member events

Organizational Management

• Talent leadership and team development of Chamber staff
• Organizational design and capacity building

Technology and Data Orientation

• Demonstrated experience establishing performance metrics, dashboards, and data-informed accountability frameworks
• Understanding of digital tools, CRM systems, Google Suite, Slack, and modern engagement platforms

Executive Leadership Attributes

​The successful candidate will possess:

• Executive Presence and Credibility: The ability to command respect and confidence among business, civic, and political leaders
• Strategic Thinking and Judgment: Ability to anticipate challenges, identify opportunities, and make sound decisions in the best interest of the organization and its membership
• Political and Organizational Acumen: The ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments effectively
• Collaborative Leadership Style: A demonstrated capacity to build alignment through inclusive decision-making and strong cross-sector partnerships
• Results Orientation: A strong focus on measurable outcomes, accountability, and impact
• Change Leadership and Adaptability: Leads organizational evolution and innovation effectively
• Communication Excellence: Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; discretion and confidentiality with sensitive information
• Integrity and Mission Alignment: A demonstrated commitment to strong ethical standards and commitment to the Chamber’s mission

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Success in this role will be measured by:

• Membership growth, engagement, and retention
• Advocacy effectiveness and policy impact
• Financial strength and revenue diversification
• Member satisfaction and demonstrated return on investment
• Organizational effectiveness and staff engagement
• Community visibility, credibility, and influence
• Progress against strategic plan objectives

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY
This is a transformational leadership opportunity to guide one of Frederick County’s most influential civic and economic institutions.
​
The next President & CEO will play a critical role in shaping the future of the Chamber, strengthening the regional business ecosystem, and advancing Frederick County’s continued economic growth and prosperity.

Key Leadership Challenges and Opportunities

The next President & CEO will be expected to successfully navigate several strategic leadership priorities:

1. Strategic Plan Execution, Evolvement, and Organizational Alignment

The Chamber has established a clear strategic direction focused on advocacy leadership, business development, digital modernization, and data-driven decision-making.

The next CEO must ensure this strategy is effectively operationalized through: