Gillenwater will follow Roy Williams, who retired after 18 years in the role, and she will assume the position in January 2023.
Christy Gillenwater, currently Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, will take over in the same role at the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber from Roy Williams, who will retire at the end of the year.
Gillenwater also serves as the chair of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, a national organization of more than 1,300 chambers of commerce.
“When we launched this search, we were looking for a proven executive with a strong economic development background,” said Sean Trauschke, chairman, president and CEO of OGE Energy, and Chamber chair. “Christy met every requirement. In addition to leading four chambers of progressively larger size, she brings direct experience in both public policy and economic development. She has also been selected by her peers to lead their national organization – that says volumes about the respect they have for her work and her leadership.”
Prior to Chattanooga, Gillenwater led chambers of commerce in Indiana, including Southwest Indiana (Evansville), Bloomington and Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce. She worked in government relations for the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and later in economic development for the Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance.
“Part of my passion for the important work of chambers of commerce includes benchmarking leading communities, and Oklahoma City is definitely a city of innovators whose initiatives are both bold and smart,” Gillenwater said. “I look forward to meeting our members and the leadership of Oklahoma City as we begin our work together.”
Gillenwater will start in her role with the Chamber in in early January.
