McMichael selected as chamber president

Maricopa business owner Jim McMichael is the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce’s new president and chief executive officer.

McMichael, who operates Everybody’s Auto Broker and Consignment, was one of three finalists including Randy King, owner of Chamber Enhancement Group in Scottsdale, and David Sommer, a Realtor from Prescott.

The chamber president position has been vacant since Terri Kingery resigned at the end of 2010.

McMichael said he found out on Friday he was the chosen candidate.

“It’s awesome,” he said Wednesday. “I’m really excited about the opportunity and intrigued by the potential. Living in town gave me the opportunity to see what is going on. We can put our chamber back where it belongs in a short time. We just have to work hard.”

McMichael was at the chamber Tuesday getting his office ready, but Monday will be his first official day of work.

Current chamber member and past board chairman Bob Gillespie said the selection committee made a good choice.

“McMichael is committed to the chamber and has 20-plus years of chamber background,” he said. “He knows how the system works. He’s involved and that’s a big part of how a chamber succeeds. You have to have a passion for what the chamber does, and I think Jim has that.”