(Updated at 4:20 p.m.) Kate Roche has been promoted to president of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.
Roche, 29, will succeed retiring president Rich Doud, 71. She began her career with the chamber in 2007 and most recently served as the organization’s vice president.
“To me, working for the Chamber has always been much more than just a job,” said Roche said in a statement. “The business community continues to evolve and so do the needs of our members. As President and CEO, I will work to keep the Chamber progressing, growing and improving to become the essential partner for business success.”
The chamber issued the following press release about the leadership change.
The Arlington Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Katharine (Kate) Roche has been selected as the Chamber’s new President & CEO. On June 20, 2014, the Chamber’s Board of Directors voted to approve Roche for the position after the Chamber engaged in an extensive nationwide search through retained search firm, Sterling Martin. Roche began with the Arlington Chamber of Commerce in 2007 and most recently served as Vice President.
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to serve the Arlington Chamber of Commerce in this capacity,” said Roche. She added, “To me, working for the Chamber has always been much more than just a job. This is truly my community. The Chamber has an incredibly solid organizational foundation, and I look forward to building upon that. The business community continues to evolve and so do the needs of our members. As President and CEO, I will work to keep the Chamber progressing, growing and improving to become the essential partner for business success.”
2014 Chair of the Chamber’s Board Tim Hughes, of Bean, Kinney & Korman, P.C., said, “As Vice President, Kate Roche has already given tremendous energy, enthusiasm and engagement to the community of our Chamber. She brings to the table a unique ability to build on our existing success and culture while dynamically leading our Chamber into the future. We are excited to continue our mission to strengthen businesses and the economic environment in Arlington with Kate Roche at the helm as President and CEO.”
Roche is a graduate of The George Washington University with a B.A. in Political Science and International Affairs. Prior to joining the Chamber, Roche worked for Women In Government, a national nonpartisan association of women state legislators based in Washington, DC.
A proud Arlington resident, she currently serves on several boards in the community including her Condo Association Board of Directors. She is also an active volunteer with several groups including the Junior League of Washington and the Arlington Community Foundation Scholarship Review Committee.
Photo via Arlington Chamber of Commerce