The Carroll County Chamber of Commerce announced the promotion of Rhyne Owenby as Vice President. After nearly three years as Director of Business Development, Owenby will take on more of the strategic programming and day-to-day management of the Chamber.
“Rhyne brings new thinking to our Chamber programming and will be the point person for enhancing the value of the Chamber among our investors,” said Jay Gill, Chamber Chairman and Carroll EMC Vice President of Communications and Economic Development. “Her energy, enthusiasm and dedication to our membership and to our community make her the ideal person to help take our organization to the next level.”
As Vice President of the Chamber, Owenby is responsible for leading initiatives in close coordination with the President and CEO. Along with a professional team, she will oversee the organization’s membership development, retention and engagement efforts as well as provide leadership and assistance for the Chamber’s volunteer councils, develop a communications plan and budget, and direct the Chamber’s three leadership programs.
“Rhyne has been invaluable during my first weeks with the Chamber and Carroll Tomorrow,” said newly appointed President and CEO Karen Handel. “She is a tremendous community leader who has the strategic vision and executive capabilities to help us bring more value to our community and our Chamber investors.”
Owenby joined the Chamber team in 2019 as the Director of Business Development. She is an active member of the Rotary Club of Carrollton, serves on the Advisory Council for PASS, and is a member of the Three Rivers Regional Commission Council. Owenby is currently working toward certification from the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government as a Georgia Certified Economic Developer and is completing the courses needed to receive the Institute for Organizational Management (IOM) certification.
“The opportunity to work with our President and CEO to take the Chamber to the next level is a privilege and a challenge I am ready to undertake,” said Owenby. “The unprecedented change and disruption caused by the pandemic provided an opportunity for me to step into a greater leadership role to focus on implementing programs that would directly and positively impact struggling businesses. There is still much work to be done. As we move forward with new, strategically focused initiatives, I will continue to be a passionate advocate for Carroll County and our business community.”
Since 1955, the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce has been the county’s leading voice for business and dynamic driver of economic prosperity in Carroll County. With more than 600 members, the Chamber fosters business growth and community betterment through a variety of programs and initiatives.
