Faces and Places

The Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce (N.C.) named Scott Czechlewski CEO. He was previously communications director of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and director of Leadership Wilmington.

Tracy Florence was named president & CEO of the Portland Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center (Texas). She was previously executive director of the Bee County Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center.

Mason City Area Chamber of Commerce (Iowa) named Colleen Frein, IOM, president & CEO. She succeeds Robin Anderson, CCE, who retired after serving the chamber after nearly 22 years. Frein, who joined the chamber in 2015, served as its program director, membership director, and most recently, vice president.

The Mount Vernon-Lee and Greater Springfield Chambers of Commerce in Virginia have joined forces to create the Mount Vernon Springfield Chamber of Commerce. Holly Hicks Dougherty, who led the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber for 21 years, now serves as president of the newly-merged chamber.

Wichita Falls Chamber (Texas) named Ron Kitchens president & CEO. Kitchens came from Birmingham, Alabama, where he was president & CEO for the Birmingham Business Alliance.

The Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.) and California Chamber of Commerce named Nick Ortiz to the dual roles of W.A.C.E. president & CEO and CalChamber vice president of local chamber relations. Ortiz, who is currently president & CEO of the Greater Bakersfield Chamber, succeeds Dave Kilby, who retires at the end of February 2023.

Norris Pearson was named president & CEO of the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce (N.Y.). Before accepting the position, Pearson was operations manager of the Houston Field House at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Elizabeth Rowray, IOM, was named chief economic development officer and president & CEO of the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance (Ind.). In addition, Rowray serves as an Indiana State Representative serving portions of Delaware and Madison counties. She previously worked for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and as a legislative director for U.S. Congressman Mark Souder.

Sandra Wilkerson was named president of the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce (N.C.). She was previously the chamber’s director of programs.

The Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce (Iowa/Ill.) named Dr. LaDrina Wilson CEO. Dr. Wilson was previously CEO of Iman Consulting and the chair of the chamber's board.