Chamber of Commerce Chief Operating Officer named Chair of Florida Association of Chamber Professionals

The Florida Association of Chamber Professionals (FACP) will be naming Sonia Douglas as their new Chair for the upcoming year at their Annual Fall Conference this week. Sonia Douglas currently serves as the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. As Chair, Sonia will lead the professional development of Chamber leaders and employees for the state of Florida and set the curriculum for the next three years to promote economic development in all business communities throughout the state.

“With Sonia, the FACP and Chambers of Commerce throughout Florida gain a leader who will take the professional development of our economic leaders to the next level and will benefit from what the Gainesville Chamber has benefitted from for the last 20 years, Sonia’s amazing leadership and abilities,” said Tim Giuliani, President and CEO of the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce. “As Chair of the FACP, Sonia will lay the groundwork of how Chambers across the state of Florida lead their respective business communities forward and promote economic development in those communities.”

During the FACP Annual Fall Conference in Boca Raton, FL this week, Douglas will walk through her vision for the professional development of Chambers and their employees throughout the state of Florida and focus on establishing the highest standards to allow Chambers to best serve their respective business communities.

Douglas’ impact on her local Chamber in Gainesville has been profound. During Douglas’ tenure at the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber created the economic development initiative, Innovation Gainesville, which, in coordination with the Chamber’s Council for Economic Outreach and other members of the business community, has spurred a recent increase in economic growth through the influx of businesses like MindTree, set to open in November and create upwards to 400 jobs, while retaining home-grown, expanding companies like Prioria Robotics and SumTotal Systems, as well as numerous others. Also under Douglas, the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce is currently recognized as a 5-star Chamber, putting it in the top 1% of Chambers nationwide.

Formed in 1924, the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business in the Gainesville area. Representing 1,200 members that employ more than 70,000 employees, the Chamber firmly believes that thriving businesses build a thriving community. The Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce is 5-star accredited by the United States Chamber of Commerce, putting it in the top 1% of all Chambers nationwide. Learn more at www.gainesvillechamber.com or call us at 352.334.7100.