Faces and Places

The Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Ill.) named Bradley Ball president. Ball was most recently vice president at Big Buzz Idea Group. His chamber career highlights include serving as executive director of the Cary-Grove Area Chamber of Commerce (Ill.) and associate director of the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce in Chicago.

The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry announced Luke Bernstein as its next president & CEO. Bernstein most recently served as executive vice president and chief operations and technology officer at Orrstown Financial Services. He succeeds Gene Barr, who served the chamber for more than eight years as vice president of government and public affairs before being elected president and CEO in October 2011.

Carolina Cooney was named executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce (Mass.). She succeeds Nancy Gardella, who served as the chamber’s executive director for 15 years. Cooney previously worked for Oak Bluffs Library, serving as its programming coordinator and working in public relations and graphic design.

Colin Diaz, IOM, ACE, was named president & CEO of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce (Ariz.). Diaz succeeds Anne Gill, who retired. Diaz was previously president & CEO of the Culver City, Calif., Chamber of Commerce.

The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce (Mo.) named Robert “Rob” Gilligan president & CEO. Gilligan succeeds John Mehner, who retired after 28 years of service to the chamber. Gilligan was previously director of Ignite Emporia (Kan.) and served for more than a decade as Emporia city commissioner.

The Greater Omaha Chamber (Neb.) named Veta Jeffery president & CEO. She succeeds David Brown who is retiring after 20 years with the chamber. Jeffery was most recent chief diversity officer for St. Louis County.

Tia Kafka was named CEO of the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce (S.D.). Kafka previously served as the Convention and Visitors Bureau director for the chamber since 2019.

The Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce (Ga.) named Jason Thomas Mock, IOM, president & CEO. Mock comes to the chamber after having served as president & CEO of the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce in Texas. Before that, he was director of small business services for the Forsyth Chamber of Commerce in Cumming, Georgia.

The Danville Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce (Va.) named Anne Moore-Sparks president & CEO. Moore-Sparks previously served the city’s school system as community engagement and business partnership specialist, teacher quality specialist and as director of the Danville Public Schools Education Foundation. She also worked for the City of Danville in both the community development and economic development departments.

Emily Paul has been named president of the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce (N.J.). She succeeds Vicki Clark who is retiring after serving the chamber more than 30 years, the last 18 as the chamber’s president. Paul comes to the chamber from CompleteCare Health Network where she most recently served as vice president of communications and development.

Andrea Reay was named the new president & CEO of Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber (Wash.). Reay was previously president & CEO of the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce.

Josh Suiter was named CEO of The Chamber of St. Matthews (Ky.). Suiter had been the chamber’s director of membership and business relations. Prior to coming to The Chamber of St. Matthews in 2016, he was director of signature events and special programs for One Southern Indiana. He currently sits on the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives board and is their president-elect. He is also a member of ACCE’s Membership Development Division advisory board.

Heather Valudes, CCE, has been named the Lancaster Chamber’s (Pa.) next president & CEO. She will succeed Thomas Baldrige, CCE, who is retiring after serving as the chamber’s president for 22 years. Valudes most recently served as the chamber’s vice president.

The Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce (Fla.) named Sara Beth Wyatt as its new president & CEO. She has served as a member of the Polk County School Board since 2016 and is currently serving as its chair. In addition to her role with the school board, Wyatt was development director for Theatre Winter Haven.