President's Commentary

December 25, 2011
By: Bay Area Chamber of Commerce

The Board of Directors of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce established the Chamber's 2012 Program of Work at their December 14th meeting.

The Chamber has been "in business for business since 1882".
Twenty committees and councils will be established to carry out 6 goals and 71 objectives in our Public Affairs, Education/Workforce Development, Business Assistance & Activities and Membership Development divisions.

The Chamber's 25 Board members elected Citizens Bank Senior Vice President David Green to serve as 2012 Chair of the Board. Alice Gerard, CEO of Bay Regional Medical Center will step into the role of Immediate Past Chair on January 1st. Pat O'Brien, CEO of EMCOR, Inc., was named Chair-Elect and Michael Hanisko, Partner, Weinlander Fitzhugh will serve as Treasurer.

Vice-Chairs of the Board for 2012 Include:

Public Affairs - Laurie Bush, Broker/Manager, Century 21 Signature Realty

Membership Development - Al Blinke, Vice President & General Manager, WNEM TV5

Business Assistance & Activities - Chris Monk, General Manager, Cumulus Media WIOG/WKQZ/WILZ/WHNN

Education/Workforce Development - John Mertz, Superintendent, Essexville-Hampton Public Schools

We would also like to recognize and thank our 2011 Immediate Past Chair, Brad Kessel, President, Independent Bank for his outstanding leadership.

The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce is the premier business leadership organization in the Bay Area. Our role is to help improve the economic climate, business environment and quality of living throughout the Bay Area.