Executive Director, Mark Guenther, resigns from position at the Chamber after five years. Guenther was hired by the Board of Directors in 2010 and has led the organization since. Guenther has overseen many accomplishments such as more than doubling the membership, ranking consistently in the top twenty chambers in the region by the Washington Business Journal and being awarded the prestigious Chamber of the Year Award in 2012 by the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Guenther stated moving on as appropriate for him at this point in his career.
“I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to be the first Executive Director of the Chamber and I loved my job. Nothing gave me greater pleasure than to be part of an organization that helped so many LGBT businesses grow and thrive but the time has come for me to look into and explore other avenues. I am confident that the Chamber leadership will find a great replacement and I look forward to helping the transition in any way that I can,” stated Guenther.
The Chamber invites members to bid Guenther farewell and celebrate his tenure at the February Networking Building Thursday at Ruff Plastic Surgery on February 12 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
Incoming president, John Quattlebaum, will oversee the formation of a search committee. “Our goal is to find a replacement with strong managerial skills and adequate experience to lead the organization and make measurable impacts,” says Quattlebaum.
With more than 430 dues paying members and over 5,000 stakeholders, The Chamber represents Washington’s LGBT business owners, professionals and allies with a broad range of services and special events that highlight gay entrepreneurs, enhance networking opportunities, and bring businesses face-to-face with customers. The Chamber’s mission is to advocate, empower, promote and facilitate the success of LGBT businesses, professionals and allies in metropolitan Washington.
