Chamber appoints new CEO

SAN MARCOS — Chairman of the board of the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce Rod Jones announced the appointment of Joan Priest to the position of president and CEO of the organization.
“The board of Directors engaged in an exhaustive and thorough process to make certain we had the best possible leadership to take the San Marcos Chamber forward in the years to come,” Jones said. “While we had several fine applicants with impressive credentials, in the end we found we had the best person to fill the job right here in the chamber family.”
Priest spent her childhood and early adult years in San Marcos, later moving to Northern California and Hawaii to pursue business interests. Upon her return to San Marcos in 2006, she began working in the chamber offices as a receptionist. Her talent for member development and enthusiasm for the chamber and its mission was quickly recognized, and she began taking on higher-level responsibilities.
Priest had been acting as the San Marcos Chamber’s interim CEO after the abrupt departure of the group’s previous CEO this past spring. She was working in the capacity of executive administrator prior to that.
“Joan’s knowledge of the San Marcos community and her steady hand in the day-to-day operation of the chamber ultimately won the day,” Chair-Elect Sheila Brown said. “We became convinced Joan Priest would be the very best advocate for the San Marcos business community and the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce.”
Priest thanked the chamber leadership for her appointment. “I deeply appreciate the board of directors putting their trust in me for this important role,” Priest said. “I will dedicate myself to affirming their belief in me.” Priest’s appointment begins immediately.
Chamber appoints new CEO