The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce announced Oct. 17 that Brandom Gengelbach, current executive vice president of the Chamber, has been named president.
He will replace Bill Thornton, who recently celebrated his 30th year with the Chamber, and had announced his retirement effective July 7, 2020.
Thornton has been the Chamber’s CEO/president since 2000. He had served in development since 1989.
Gengelbach came to the Chamber as EVP of Economic Development in November 2016.
“Brandom has been leading the Fortify 2018-2021 strategic plan literally since the day he arrived in Fort Worth and participated in a board retreat where the plan was born,” Lonnie Nicholson, chairman of the Chamber Board and CEO of EECU, said in a news release.
“His 18 years of experience with numerous chambers and the strong community relationships he has forged in the Fort Worth region have prepared him to take on this role,” Nicholson said.
Gengelbach said he is excited to have the opportunity to lead the Chamber and work alongside Fort Worth business leaders and the Fort Worth community.
“Last year, Fort Worth was one of the top three fastest growing cities in the US. I look forward to continuing that momentum and Fortifying Fort Worth,” he said.
Before coming to Fort Worth, Gengelbach served as president of the public-private Maury County Chamber and Economic Alliance. He re-energized the Columbia, Tenn.-based organization, doubling membership while leading a three-year effort that brought 2,300 jobs to the county, $158 million in capital investment and a reduction in unemployment from 14 percent to less than 8 percent.
Gengelbach’s career included work in organizational development and corporate partnerships for the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and economic development for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Previously, he served Brisbane Marketing, the official marketing authority for the Greater Brisbane, Australia, region after taking a sabbatical to Central and South America to learn Spanish.
Gengelbach grew up in Houston and the Plano-Addison area. He holds an MBA from the University of Southampton, near London, where he was a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Samford University in Birmingham, Ala.