kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and KilleenPresident And CEO Of The Greater Waco Chamber Announces Retirement

WACO (KCEN)- James G. Vaughan Jr., President and CEO of the Greater Waco Chamber, announced Wednesday his plans to retire on June 30 or as soon thereafter as his successor is named.

Vaughan, 68, told the Chamber's Board of Directors that May 1 will mark eight years as president and CEO of the Greater Waco Chamber and 42 years as a chamber professional and consultant to local chambers.

"The approaching reality of these milestones has led my wife, Patty, and me to reflect on my career and our future and we have decided that it is time to retire from active Chamber work," Vaughan said.

Board Chair Stewart Kelly said that Vaughan's work with the Chamber has been marked with an energy that has set in motion progressive goals for both the organization and the community.

"Jim has had a tremendous impact on our Chamber as well as the Greater Waco community. In what most people would consider a short amount of time, Jim was able to bring all of his prior chamber experiences and share them with the Waco Chamber," said Kelly. "In doing so, he assembled a tremendous staff."

Together, under Jim's leadership, the Chamber staff and a broad base of Chamber volunteers have grown the Chamber into an exciting and vibrant organization that sets the foundation for future growth."

Kelly said the Chamber has formed a search committee to begin a nationwide search for a new president and CEO of the Chamber.

Chamber Chair-Elect Ed Page echoes Kelly's sentiments.

"Jim has been a visionary leader that helped us work together to accomplish what we all wanted to do, which is to make Waco a better community," said Page. "Jim has done this by helping us reshape what others thought about Waco and he did that first by getting all of us who live here to start thinking differently about ourselves."

Scott Felton, the Chamber's vice chair and treasurer, said Vaughan has been a good fit for the Greater Waco Chamber and has enhanced the organization's role in spurring development.

"Chambers don't necessarily make communities better, and chamber presidents don't necessarily make a chamber better, but ours does," said Felton. "Through Jim Vaughan's leadership, the Chamber has provided outstanding support and leadership to the economic and community development in McLennan County."
Immediate Past Chair Don Moes said the accomplishments during Vaughan's tenure are outstanding and will leave a lasting footprint on the future of the community.

"Jim has done as much or more for Waco than anyone I know," said Moes.