TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Tampa Chamber Leader To Take Job In Virginia

ADVERTISEMENT

By MICHAEL SASSO

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 19, 2008

TAMPA - Kim Scheeler, the longtime leader of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, is leaving that post in August to lead the Greater Richmond (Va.) Chamber of Commerce.

Scheeler said he is making the move because it's an opportunity to lead an organization with more than double the budget of the Tampa chamber and a broader geographic scope. Where the Tampa Chamber promotes business and economic development in Hillsborough County, the Richmond chamber is more of a regional organization comprising several counties, he said.

He wouldn't reveal his future salary, but said that given the additional responsibilities, "it stands to reason that there's additional compensation."

Scheeler's final day in Tampa will be Aug. 15, and he will start his new position Aug. 25. With Scheeler's departure, the Tampa chamber will have lost two of its senior executives this year. Myron Hughes, the chamber's former vice president for economic development, left in February to lead the University of Cincinnati's alumni association.

Scheeler said his and Hughes' departures should not reflect poorly on the Tampa chamber. He said the chamber is on far better financial footing than in the past and has seen its membership rebound to more than 2,000 members. He said an executive recruiting firm approached him about the Richmond job a couple of months ago. Scheeler initially rebuffed the offer, but later agreed to visit Richmond and liked the organization and its people, he said.

Reporter Michael Sasso can be reached at (813) 259-7865 or msasso@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT