The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce has undergone significant changes among its executive leadership in recent months, ever since the chamber’s board of directors named Wayne Burns as the new CEO, replacing Jaene Miranda, who left last year for the top job with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County.
Mary Lou Bedford, the former vice president of marketing and business development, was promoted to executive vice president.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with the direction in which we are headed,” Bedford said. “Our new CEO is a visionary, and under his leadership, I’m confident we will take our organization to new heights.”
Gary Loft has been hired as the associate director of finance and operations. Loft’s background includes 29 years in finance, having worked for large nonprofits such as the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Florida Grand Opera in Miami and the Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center in Boca Raton.
Sonya Moste has been hired as the associate director of marketing, communications and public relations. She is the former director of marketing with Invest Atlanta, the official economic development and redevelopment agency for the City of Atlanta.
“There’s a lot going on in central Palm Beach County, and it’s my goal to tell the story so that other businesses will read about the successes and want to move here and create jobs,” Moste said.
The chamber is conducting a national search for an associate director of economic development.
“My number-one priority right now is putting a winning team together,” Burns said. “When I look at the talent around me, I could not be more delighted. I’m excited about the possibilities of what we as a chamber will be able to achieve for our members and our economic impact on Palm Beach County.”
The geographic footprint of the central Palm Beach County Chamber extends from the sugar cane fields near Lake Okeechobee to the coral reefs of the Atlantic Ocean, encompassing 15 incorporated municipalities and serving a population of more than 420,000 residents, roughly 30 percent of the population of Palm Beach County.
More than 1,200 member businesses receive benefits through the chamber’s programs and services. The chamber also produces community events such as Reggae Fest, Salsa Fest, the Tropical Triathlon and the Wellington Holiday Parade. For more info., visit www.cpbchamber.com.
