President and CEO

Korn Ferry has partnered with our client on their search for President and CEO

The Organization

The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce serves as a central pillar of economic and civic leadership in Winter Park, Florida – a community celebrated for its historic character, cultural vibrancy, and exceptional quality of life. Established to advance the prosperity of the city and its business community, the Chamber is a voluntary, member‑driven 501(c)(6) organization dedicated to championing local businesses, fostering strategic collaboration, and strengthening the region’s economic vitality. In addition to its core work, the Chamber’s broader impact is amplified through its affiliated organizations, including WinterPAC, which advances pro-business public policy locally, and the Winter Park Improvement Foundation, which supports community investment and long-term initiatives that enhance the city’s livability and economic strength. With a population of just over 31,000 residents, Winter Park’s steady growth is supported by a thriving local economy, a highly educated population, and a longstanding commitment to community leadership. As the city continues to evolve, the Chamber plays a critical role in guiding Winter Park through new opportunities, challenges, and areas of strategic investment.

Winter Park, Florida

Winter Park, Florida is a highly regarded city in Orange County and the Orlando metro, known for its historic character, cultural amenities, and exceptional quality of life. With about 31,000 residents, the city has grown steadily on the strength of a diverse local economy, a highly educated workforce, and a long tradition of community stewardship. Unlike many fast‑growing Florida markets, Winter Park maintains its small‑city charm and thoughtful planning, blending neighborhood livability with regional opportunity.

Purpose of the Position

The President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce is the community’s chief convener and the organization’s senior executive, responsible for uniting business, civic, educational, and nonprofit partners around a clear agenda that strengthens Winter Park’s economy and quality of place. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO sets the Chamber’s strategic direction, aligns people and resources to deliver measurable outcomes, and represents the collective voice of members with credibility, diplomacy, and influence. The charge is both outward‑facing, building trust with city leadership, advancing a thoughtful advocacy posture, and elevating the Chamber’s regional profile, and inward‑facing, preserving a distinctive, high‑performance staff culture built on trust, flexibility, autonomy, and purpose. This is a uniquely visible leadership role that shapes the tone of civic dialogue, models collaborative problem‑solving, and serves as a catalyst for the community’s long‑term prosperity.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Community Positioning

• Shape a clear organizational direction that reflects Winter Park’s character, business environment, and long‑term aspirations; translate that vision into practical priorities, measurable goals, and steady progress visible to members and civic partners.
• Work closely with the Board to align governance, planning, and resource decisions with the Chamber’s mission and evolving role in the community.
• Strengthen the Chamber’s identity as a civic collaborator and community voice, helping guide constructive dialogue around growth, heritage, and economic vitality.

Operational Management

• Safeguard and cultivate a workplace culture defined by trust, autonomy, professionalism, and shared purpose; ensure staff feel supported, valued, and empowered.
• Provide clear expectations, thoughtful delegation, and strong communication to maintain high performance and operational rhythm across a lean, mission‑driven team.
• Engage volunteer leaders, board members, and community ambassadors in meaningful ways that extend the Chamber’s influence and programming strength.

Civic Engagement and Partnership Development

• Build constructive, trust‑based relationships with City leadership, commissioners, and other public‑sector partners, helping the Chamber serve as a connector and problem‑solver in the community.
• Provide a steady, informed presence on issues affecting Winter Park’s business climate and quality of life; articulate positions in a manner that reflects the Chamber’s non‑partisan, solutions‑oriented approach.
• Expand partnerships with higher education, cultural organizations, philanthropic entities, and regional economic groups to amplify the Chamber’s reach and collaborative capacity.

Membership and Programming

• Ensure the Chamber’s programs, events, and content offerings (such as thought‑leadership platforms, business engagement efforts, and community‑facing initiatives) continue to be well‑executed, high quality, and reflective of community aspirations.
• Modernize the value proposition for members by strengthening services, refining communications, and ensuring responsiveness to small and mid‑sized businesses.
• Oversee operational systems, budgeting, financial stewardship, and day‑to‑day administration to maintain stability, reliability, and accountability.

Direct Reports

The President & CEO directly oversees the following executive leaders:

• Chief Marketing Officer
• Vice President, Programs
• Senior Director, Membership
• Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships
• Director, Finance and Operations
• Director, Government Affairs
• Chief of Staff

The Candidate

Experience and Professional Qualifications

The next President & Chief Executive Officer of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce will be a relationship‑driven leader who understands that credibility in this role begins with building trust across a close‑knit community. Winter Park requires a CEO who can quickly establish rapport with City Hall, civic partners, business owners, and residents, someone who approaches the role with diplomacy, emotional intelligence, and a willingness to understand for the traditions and expectations that shape the city’s identity.

Specific experience, qualifications and characteristics sought include:

• Proven ability to lead in a relationship driven, community centric environment, with experience working across diverse stakeholder groups such as city officials, civic leaders, higher education partners, major employers, and local small business owners.
• Track record of cultivating high trust, high accountability organizational cultures, especially within mission driven teams that value autonomy, flexibility, and purpose over hierarchy, reflecting the Winter Park Chamber’s unique staff model and strong ownership mentality.
• Demonstrated success building and sustaining constructive civic relationships, including navigating Winter Park’s close knit and tradition minded community dynamics, strengthening ties with City Hall, and modeling a non partisan, diplomatic advocacy style that advances business interests without polarization.
• Experience designing and executing strategic initiatives in membership based, public facing organizations, with the ability to align board, staff, and community around long term priorities and translate strategy into visible outcomes across programs, events, policy work, and digital platforms.
• Comfort and fluency with modern communications and content driven community engagement, including public speaking, storytelling, and digital presence, in support of the Chamber’s growing thought leadership platforms, including its podcast, data scorecards, leadership initiatives, and signature events.
• Background in economic and workforce development, including familiarity with business retention and expansion, small business vitality, employer engagement, and partnerships with educational and training institutions; ability to represent business needs in areas such as housing, workforce readiness, and economic competitiveness.
• Demonstrated expertise in delivering stakeholder value and engagement, with experience modernizing member benefits, strengthening retention and growth, expanding sponsorship revenue, and designing programs that serve both small businesses and influential regional employers.
• Operational and financial leadership experience, including stewardship of lean budgets, fiscal oversight, revenue diversification, and strengthening organizational systems to support scalable program delivery and event execution.
• History of working effectively with volunteer leadership, including boards of directors, committees, and community task forces, with a focus on transparency, collaboration, and clear governance partnership.
• Ability to serve as a highly visible civic presence, representing the Chamber in public forums, media, and cross sector partnerships, bringing clarity, credibility, and diplomacy to community conversations.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA, advanced degree, or equivalent executive leadership experience strongly preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

• The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce offers a competitive and comprehensive compensation package commensurate with experience and aligned with organizations of similar size and scope. The package includes an expected base salary of $200,000 - $225,000, performance-based incentives, and a robust benefits program. Benefits include health coverage, retirement contributions, paid time off, and participation in professional development opportunities.

Application & Nominations

Applications should direct a resume/CV to:

• Winter ParkChamberofCommercePresidentandCEO@KornFerry.com.

The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and respect. We welcome and encourage candidates of all backgrounds and experiences and do not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic protected by applicable law.

To Learn more please visit - https://winterpark.org/

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