Dallas Regional Chamber

The Dallas Regional Chamber, formerly known as the Dallas Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce—is a chamber of commerce that represents businesses and institutions in North Texas, including the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area.

Dallas Regional Chamber
Founded1909
TypeAdvocacy group
FocusBusiness advocacy
Location
  • Dallas, Texas
Area served
United States North Texas
MethodPolicy advocacy, member engagement
Key people
Dale Petroskey (President & CEO)
WebsiteDallas Regional Chamber Official Website

History

The Dallas Regional Chamber was founded in 1909 as a combination of three smaller organizations: the Commercial Club (founded in 1893),[1] the 150,000 Club,[2] and the Freight Bureau—and the Dallas Board of Trade, established in 1874.[3]

The Dallas Regional Chamber is supported by roughly 3,000 businesses and organizations across twelve counties, and its members represent nearly 600,000 area employees. The chamber's mission statement:

The Dallas Regional Chamber promotes prosperity through public policy, economic development and member engagement.

The chamber is led by a board of roughly 100 business executives.[4] In 2020, the chairman of the board is John Olajide, founder and CEO of Axxess; the chairman-elect for 2021 is Michelle Vopni, Dallas Office Managing Partner, Ernst & Young, LLP.

Dale Petroskey has served as president of the Dallas Regional Chamber since April 2014. Mr. Petroskey is the former Executive Vice President of Marketing for the Texas Rangers baseball club. He is a former executive of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and the National Geographic Society, and a former political appointee in the administration of United States President Ronald Reagan.

Recent notable speakers before the Dallas Regional Chamber include Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke,[5] Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer,[6] former United States Secretary of State James Baker,[7] and Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert.[8]

References
  1. Graff, Harvey J. (2008). The Dallas Myth: The Making and Unmaking of an American City. Minneapolis: Univ of Minnesota Press. p. 284. ISBN 978-0-8166-5269-3.
  2. The 150,000 Club was a group of Dallas businessmen that came together in 1905 with the goal of spurring growth in the city to reach 150,000 residents by 1910. The 150,000 population goal was met in 1920.
  3. (Graff 2008, p. 281)
  4. "Board of Directors". Dallas Regional Chamber. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  5. Chan, Sewell (7 April 2010). "Bernanke Says Nation Must Take Action Soon to Shape Fiscal Future". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  6. Godinez, Victor (8 May 2010). "Tech innovation vital, Microsoft chief Ballmer tells Dallas-area execs". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  7. Souder, Elizabeth (19 June 2009). "James Baker urges president to push nations on greenhouse gases". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  8. Bush, Randolph (15 September 2010). "Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert cites progress, calls for lower homeowner taxes". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
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