Chamber hires veteran president/CEO in interim position

Mike Richey, chairman of the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce board of directors, announced Thursday the group has hired former Mesa Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Charlie Deaton in an interim position as it searches for a permanent executive.

Deaton worked with chambers in Mississippi and Kentucky before coming to Arizona in 1989 as manager of the business development division of the state Department of Commerce and then as president and CEO of the Mesa chamber. He retired in 2010.

“To attract a person with Charlie’s experience and savvy in how chambers work is a huge feather in the chamber’s cap,” Richey said. “He lends instant credibility and will allow us to develop a program to address public relations issues and build our relationship with elected officials and city staff.”

On March 5, the city council voted to honor its current $40,000 public service agreement with the chamber, but made it clear members were not inclined to continue funding the chamber after the current fiscal year.

During that meeting, the newly elected Richey told the council the chamber is “re-inventing” itself and coming off two years of ineffective leadership.

Deaton will handle the day-to-day operation, while a search committee looks for a permanent president/CEO.

Richey said during the council meeting he was “thrilled” with the quality of people who were applying and, “With the right leadership we can turn this thing around in a hurry.”

Several council members mentioned during that meeting the chamber didn’t work well with the city and Richey said he and the new board of directors are working to rectify that situation.

When Deaton was introduced to chamber membership during its monthly breakfast Thursday, he said he noticed the number of cars headed to Phoenix as he traveled to the breakfast.

“Our job is going to be to get them to stay here and to do that you need economic development.”

Deaton said he’s “never found a profession more rewarding then a chamber of commerce.”

Richey said Deaton will play a daily role in increasing the chamber’s efficiency and work to strengthen the organization by reviewing the group’s “financial structure, reporting process, dues structure, accounting procedures, as well as reviewing the bylaws.”