Position Description
President & Chief Executive Officer
Lake Houston Area (formerly Humble Area) Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber
The Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce (“the Chamber”) is an active and respected organization with approximately 1,300 members (looking to grow to 2,000 soon), a staff of 7 and a budget of $650,000. The Chamber is the organized voice for the quality of life and business related issues at the local, state, and federal level of government and is the front door to the community for tourism and business relocation information. The mission of the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce is to attract new business, support and strengthen the business environment, serve the needs of the members, and cooperate with civic leaders and other interested parties to promote community growth.

The Lake Houston Area
Located in the northeast quadrant of the Houston metropolitan area, just 21 miles from downtown on Highway 59, the Lake Houston Area includes Humble, Kingwood, Atascocita, Spring, Summerwood, Fall Creek and portions of Southeast Montgomery County. The largely forested area encompasses nearly 100 square miles of land in northeast Harris County. Due to its natural beauty, the recreation of Lake Houston and the San Jacinto River, the proximity of Bush Intercontinental Airport and the Port of Houston, and the quality of its many subdivisions, the area has proven to be a strong attraction.

The Position
The President & Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) is the chief paid executive and administrative officer of the Chamber, responsible for all administrative and management functions and executing the mission of the Chamber as approved by the Board of Directors. The CEO will provide high profile leadership, vision, guidance and strategic direction for the full range of activities of the Chamber as well as the coordination of the program of work; organizational structure and procedures; motivation of volunteers; income and expenditures; maintenance of membership; employment, training and supervision of staff; interpretation of policy; and long-range planning. He/She will be a collaborative leader and will successfully manage and evaluate current Chamber programs while developing new programs and strategic initiatives to support the Chamber’s operations and growth and its desire to increase membership to 2,000 members.
 
Location
The position is located in the Chamber’s offices at 110 W. Main, Humble, Tx, 77338; telephone: 281-446-2128.

Reporting Relationships
The President & CEO of the Lake Houston Area Chamber reports to the Chairman of the Board, to the 8-member Executive Committee, and to the full 31 member Board of Directors. The President leads the Chamber’s 7 member staff who are engaged in program development, legislative and governmental affairs, member events and communication. Other important interactions include: executives and employees of Chamber member organizations; city, county, state and national elected officials and their staffs; representatives of other public and private sector partnership organizations; education officials; and members of the media.

Major Duties and Responsibilities include:
• Program of Work: Working together with Chamber Committees, the CEO must identify Chamber and community needs and prepare of a program of work designed to meet these needs. Furthermore, the CEO must constantly evaluate the programs of work, making recommendations for change as needed and oversee a system of measuring progress towards attaining the goals of each program and the community.
• Membership Management: Oversee the development and execution of programs for recruiting new members, retaining current members, and promoting positive member-Chamber relations. He/she will review and manage an equitable membership dues structure and propose revisions/increases subject to Board of Directors approval.
• Chamber Structure and Procedures: The CEO is responsible for evaluating and making recommendations to the board regarding the internal structure and procedures of the Chamber to ensure maximum efficiency.
• Economic Development: The CEO is responsible for working with private and public entities to attract and retain jobs in the greater Lake Houston Area. The executive will assume responsibility for personally answering any economic development inquiries and will work to effectively promote regional growth and development.
• Long Range Planning: Under the direction of a constantly evolving Board of Directors and an annually changing roster of officers, the CEO is responsible for maintaining continuity and consistency in programming. Evaluating community needs, the CEO must anticipate emerging and long-range opportunities and challenges and work with the Board to develop and continually update the Chamber’s Strategic Plan.
• Interpretation of Policy: The CEO will ensure the Chamber policy, as established by the Board, is properly recorded in minutes and indexed in the Policy Manual. This executive will assist the Board, committees, members and staff in interpretation of policy in relation to any given question or program.
• Income and Expenses: The CEO is responsible for developing the Chamber budget and relating the budget to the program goals. This executive is responsible for all expenditures within the framework of the budget as approved by the Board. The CEO will oversee the preparation of monthly financial statements of income and expenses and ensure that financial records of the Chamber are reviewed and/or audited as required.
• Staff: The CEO is responsible for the employment of all staff personnel, the assignment of their duties, the supervision of their work, and the establishment of the terms of their employment. In addition, this executive assumes responsibility for employees’ training and professional development and is accountable for the efficient performance of staff members’ duties. Reviews of job performance and determination of employee salaries are to be performed annually with the approval of the Executive Committee.
• Other Duties: The CEO is responsible for other duties as assigned from time to time by the Chamber’s Board of Directors.

Qualifications
Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university preferably in economic and community development, business, marketing, or related field and a minimum of five years of proven and successful experience in a management or supervisory position. Demonstrated commitment to continued professional development through the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Organization Management and/or Certified Chamber Executive designation is preferred. The ideal candidate has a proven track record of success in association or chamber management or an executive from a complex private or public sector entity.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Chamber/Non Profit Experience: Minimum of 5 years of senior or executive management experience at chamber of commerce, CVB, business association or other related nonprofit organization. Experience managing a regional chamber of commerce is preferred.
• Management experience: Strong staff leadership and human resource development; has effectively led a complex organization
• Planning: Has successfully developed and implemented both operational and strategic plans
• Economic/Business Development: Has worked collaboratively with established public and private sector to effectively promote business growth
• Government Relations and Advocacy: Experience in the process of local, state, regional and national government and government organizations; has developed effective working relationships with elected/appointed officials and their staffs
• Fiscal Management: Demonstrated ability to manage financial affairs of an organization; develop revenue sources and control expenditures so as to preserve financial stability).
• Membership Development: Has actively promoted an organization; track record of membership development, retention, increased value and appropriate expansion
• Board Relationships: Significant involvement with Board development and recruitment, governance issues and Board of Director interactions
• Resource Development: Experience with varied successful funding activities including development programs, capital campaigns, publications and advertising, special events, dues and non-dues revenue campaigns
• Community/Regional Development: Able to identify both local and regional issues and effectively manage interactions with regional organizations to achieve common goals
• Small Business: Success in serving small business enterprises and working with entrepreneurs
• Communication: Demonstrated the ability to develop and make effective presentations
• Collaborative Relationships: Demonstrated track record of developing effective partnerships among all sectors, from large companies to entrepreneurs, from city to state governments, from related business organizations to higher education
• Established Contacts: Has developed and maintained regional and national connections with business, government and other public sector organizations).
• Volunteer Organization Experience: Appreciates the value of voluntary organization structure and operating techniques; proven ability to motivate and utilize staff and volunteers
• Media/Public Relations: Ability to effectively articulate goals, objectives and policy positions of the Chamber to the media and the community at large

Compensation:
Compensation and benefits are negotiable and commensurate with experience.

Application Process:
Resume, cover letter addressing qualifications and experience, salary history, and a list of at least three references should be directed to:

Lake Houston Area Chamber Executive Search
c/o: Jason Medley, O'Donnell, Ferebee, Medley & Keiser, P.C.
450 Gears Road, 8th Floor,
Houston, Texas 77067

Or email to jmedley@ofmklaw.com

Deadline to Apply:
March 1, 2010