LAS VEGAS - Kara J. Kelley, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, has announced her retirement from the Chamber effective April 1, 2010. Kelley communicated her decision in a letter and conference call to the Chamber’s Board of Trustees. Kelley is leaving to explore options for her continued professional development. Kelley will continue to serve in her current role until April 2010. The Chamber will conduct a national search for her replacement.
Ms. Kelley is responsible for the strategic direction and policy implementation of the third largest metropolitan chamber of commerce in the nation. In her position, Ms. Kelley oversees policymaking, political advocacy, strategic planning and long-range goals.
“It has been an honor to serve as president of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and my privilege to work alongside so many talented staff members and volunteers. I have been proud to lead an organization known as an industry innovator. In particular, I believe our most recent efforts toward government reform illustrate the Chamber’s leadership on behalf of our members and the business community,” Kelley stated in her letter to board chairman Steve Hill.
Kelley joined the Chamber in 1995, and has served as president and CEO since 2002. She has held several positions within the Chamber including director of government affairs and chief operating officer.
Under her leadership, the Chamber’s accomplishments include the sale of the Chamber’s building and relocation to Town Square, the successful rebranding and enhancement of the Chamber and its member benefits and the launch of Vegas Young Professionals. Most recently, the Chamber was successful in advocating the reform of Nevada public employees’ pension and retirement benefits thereby reducing the projected long term liability of these plans on taxpayers.
During her tenure, Ms. Kelley was selected by the Nevada Business Journal as one of Nevada’s top CEOs. She was listed among the top 40 most powerful women in Nevada, and was selected by In Business Las Vegas as one of the 37 Most Influential Businesswomen in Southern Nevada. She has also been named one of the “Top 40 Under 40” in Las Vegas. She has received the Executive of the Year award by the Western Association of Chamber Executives, the Louis Wiener Young Leadership Award and the Glass Ceiling Award by the National Association of Women Business Owners (Southern Nevada Chapter).
“Kara Kelley has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and service to the membership of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and to the business community. She has continuously developed new strategies to serve the needs of members in good times and bad. She has been a strong advocate for businesses at all levels of government, working to ensure that Southern Nevada remains one of the best places in the world to do business,” said Hill. “We appreciate Kara continuing to serve the Chamber until April, giving the board ample time to find a suitable replacement.”
