After leading the Columbia Chamber of Commerce for twelve years, Chamber CEO and President Matt McCormick has resigned to become the new president and CEO of the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership (Ocala CEP) in Ocala, Florida.
The Columbia Chamber board of directors announced McCormick’s resignation and new position in a news release on Thursday.
“It has been an honor to serve the Columbia Chamber and the Columbia business community,” McCormick said in the news release. “I am proud of what we have accomplished together, the programs we have built, and the strong partnerships we have.”
McCormick not only led the local Chamber of Commerce, but he also established himself as an integral part of the community in many ways, said Chamber board member David Nivens.
McCormick said that Columbia has been his family’s home for the past 12 years, “and will always hold a special place in our hearts.”
Under McCormick’s leadership, the Chamber strengthened its role as the voice of the business community. Key accomplishments during his tenure include:
- Launching new initiatives to support workforce development and business growth.
- Expanding the Chamber’s legislative impact at the state and local levels.
- Guiding the business community through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Implemented the Leadership Visit program to grow partnerships and initiate new programs that have a positive impact on the community.
- Lead efforts for the widening and beautification of I-70 and the Missouri River Bridge.
“Over the past 12 years, Matt McCormick has represented the Columbia Chamber of Commerce with exceptional dedication,” said Mat Gass, Chamber board chairman. “His leadership has guided the Chamber’s growth, strengthened its role in the community, and created lasting partnerships. We are grateful for his service to Columbia and wish him and his family the very best as they begin this next chapter in Ocala, Florida.”
Lily White Boyd, the Chamber’s vice president of external affairs, will serve as interim CEO during the board’s nationwide search for the Chamber’s next CEO.
The Ocala CEP combines the business and industry advocacy of a Chamber of Commerce with business and economic development initiatives. The CEP’s website notes that the organization is positioned to be “a catalyst for the business community.”
“By working together with our partners and community investors,” the website states, “we will continue to improve our quality of life and build a strong base for economic growth in our community.”
The CEP was named the ACCE national Chamber of the Year in 2020 after being a finalist for the industry’s top honor in 2017 and 2019.
Ocala and Marion County is the self-acclaimed “Horse Capital of the World” as the home to more than 900 farms, breeding, and training facilities, with more than fifty different breeds represented and nearly 29,000 residents employed in the county’s Thoroughbred industry alone. The CEP’s website notes that the trademarked “Horse Capital of the World” title was read into the Congressional record in 1999 and the U.S. Department of Agriculture put its seal of approval on promotions using that label, since the USDA’s Census of Agriculture continues to show that Marion leads all U.S. counties in total number of horses and ponies in residence.
