The Greater Memphis Chamber is an organization in Memphis, Tennessee, which attempts to improve business to business relationships. The organization also helps companies understand the advantages of doing business in Memphis.
The mission of the Greater Memphis Chamber is "to help Memphis grow". The organization works with the local, state, and federal government to benefit members of the Greater Memphis Chamber. They provide educational programs and they act as a conduit for business to business relationships. [1]
The chamber was founded in March 1838 by two businessmen, Col. Nathaniel Anderson and Louis Trezevant. The city of Memphis was new at the time and they formed the organization to function as a chamber of commerce. [2]
In late 2022 the chamber was led by President & CEO Ted Townsend. [3] He was promoted from his position at the chamber: director of economic development. [4] Townsend succeeded Beverly Robertson who was in the position for four years and stepped down in 2022. [5] Robertson succeeded Pinnacle Airlines CEO Philip Trenary who was shot dead in Memphis, Tennessee on September 27, 2018. Trenary served as the CEO of the Chamber until his death. [6]
One of the chamber's biggest accomplishments was the Blue Oval City deal that they made with the Ford Motor Company. [4] The US$5.6 billion Blue Oval City, was expected to employ 5,800 people from the Memphis area. [7]
Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County, in the southwesternmost part of the state, and is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-most populous city in Tennessee after Nashville.
Memphis International Airport is a civil-military airport located seven miles (11 km) southeast of Downtown Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States. It is the primary international airport serving Memphis. It covers 3,900 acres (1,600 ha) and has four runways.
Endeavor Air is a United States regional airline headquartered at the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The airline is a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines and staffs, operates and maintains aircraft used on Delta Connection flights that are scheduled, marketed and sold by Delta Air Lines.
Memphis International Raceway was an auto racing park located near the Loosahatchie River in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, just approximately ten miles south of Millington, and a few miles north of the city of Memphis.
Colgan Air was a regional airline of the United States, becoming a subsidiary of Pinnacle Airlines Corp. The headquarters of Colgan Air was located in Manassas, Virginia until 2010, and then Memphis, Tennessee.
The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is a U.S. not-for-profit advocacy group that aims to expand the economic opportunities and advancement of the LGBT business community. Its headquarters are in NW in Washington, D.C. NGLCC is the exclusive certifying body for LGBT-owned businesses known as LGBT Business Enterprises (LGBTBEs), and advocates for LGBT business inclusion in corporate and government supplier diversity programs. In October 2017, the organization changed its name from the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to National LGBT Chamber of Commerce to better reflect the entire LGBT business community it serves.
Downtown Memphis, Tennessee is the central business district of Memphis, Tennessee and is located along the Mississippi River between Interstate 40 to the north, Interstate 55 to the south and I-240 to the east, where it abuts Midtown Memphis.
The 2006 United States Senate election in Tennessee was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican Senator Bill Frist, the Majority Leader, retired after two terms in office. The open seat was won by Republican nominee Bob Corker, who defeated Democratic nominee Harold Ford Jr.
Lawrence W. "Larry" Kellner is the former CEO of Continental Airlines, having succeeded Gordon Bethune as CEO in December 2004. Prior to his arrival at Continental, he served as the chief financial officer of American Savings Bank. Kellner retired as the airline's chief executive at the end of December 2009. During his career at Continental, he previously served as a vice president, chief financial officer and chief operating officer. Kellner currently serves as president of Emerald Creek Group, LLC - a Texas-based private equity firm primarily focused on real estate and also as chairman of the board of directors of The Boeing Company as well as serving on the board of directors at ExxonMobil.
Interstate 40 (I-40) is part of the Interstate Highway System that runs 2,556.61 miles (4,114.46 km) from Barstow, California, to Wilmington, North Carolina. The highway crosses Tennessee from west to east, from the Mississippi River at the Arkansas border to the Blue Ridge Mountains at the North Carolina border. At 455.28 miles (732.70 km), the Tennessee segment of I-40 is the longest of the eight states through which it passes and the state's longest Interstate Highway.
Yuri Cunza is an American social entrepreneur, media professional, journalist, visual artist, business leader, and community advocate. Cunza currently serves as President and CEO of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and is founder and editor in chief of the Spanish language newspaper La Noticia and owner of Y&K a media support and consulting services company based in Nashville. In September 2018, Yuri Cunza was selected to serve on the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The USHCC is the largest Hispanic business organization in the United States. It was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Washington, DC. The chamber promotes the economic growth and development of entrepreneurs and represents the interests of nearly 4.37 million Hispanic owned businesses in the US that contribute in excess of $700 billion to the American economy.
Alan Joseph Joyce is an Irish-Australian businessman. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Qantas Airways Limited from 2008 until his resignation in 2023. Joyce retired as CEO on 5 September 2023, with Vanessa Hudson succeeding him the following day.
Pinnacle Airlines Corporation was an American holding company headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, and was the parent company of Pinnacle Airlines and Colgan Air until Colgan was closed down in 2012. The company contracted its airlines to fly in the aircraft livery of other airlines such as Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. The company filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 in 2012 and emerged from Chapter 11 in 2013 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines. The company's only surviving airline, Pinnacle, became Endeavor Air.
One Commerce Square is a 30-story skyscraper in Downtown Memphis which is locally referred to as the "iBank Tower". The building was formerly known as the NBC Building and the SunTrust Building, and is the fourth tallest building in Memphis, Tennessee. The building is located at the corner of Monroe Avenue and South Main Street.
Harold Eugene Ford Jr. is an American financial managing director, pundit, author, and former U.S. Congressman who served from 1997–2007 in the United States House of Representatives as a member of the Democratic Party from Tennessee's 9th congressional district, centered in Memphis. He is a member of the Ford political family from Memphis, and is the son of former Congressman Harold Ford Sr., who held the same seat for 22 years. In 2006, Ford made an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the retiring Bill Frist. He was also the last chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC).
Susan "Dee" Haslam is an American businesswoman. She is the founder and executive producer of RIVR Media and CEO of the Haslam Sports Group. Dee is a co-owner of the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL), along with her husband, Jimmy Haslam. The Haslams are also majority investors in the ownership group of the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer (MLS) – with two MLS Cup champions during their tenure, and have a partial ownership stake in the Milwaukee Bucks of theNational Basketball Association (NBA).
Philip Hartley Trenary was an American businessman and civic leader who was the CEO and president of the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce and a former CEO of Pinnacle Airlines.
Blue Oval City is a planned automotive assembly complex near Stanton, Tennessee that will be operated by Ford Motor Company and SK Innovation. It is expected to be operational in 2025. The facility takes its name from Ford's logo. It will primarily consist of an automotive assembly plant to produce electric pickup trucks and a plant to manufacture electric vehicle batteries, as well as a battery recycling facility, suppliers, and a training center.
The 2023 Memphis mayoral election took place on October 5, 2023. Incumbent Jim Strickland is term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third term in office. The election used the plurality vote system, with no possibility of a runoff. The election was officially non-partisan, but several candidates were affiliated with political parties.
Beverly Robertson is an American businesswoman. In 1997 she became the president of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. In 2019 she became the first African American chief executive of the Greater Memphis Chamber.