Fort Worth Chamber names new economic development leader

(Photo by Molly Wantland)

The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce has named a new leader for economic development, the organization announced today.

Brandom Gengelbach, 40, a business professional with foreign and domestic experience, has been named the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Vice President of Economic Development, Chamber President and CEO Bill Thornton announced.

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 will join the Chamber Nov. 28, Thornton said.

“We’re excited to have Brandom in a role that’s so vital to the Chamber and our partners who depend on us to help drive Fort Worth’s growth, prosperity and quality of life,” said Thornton.

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“He brings 16 years of economic development and chamber leadership experience, including stints in Nashville, Tennessee; Indianapolis, Indiana, and Brisbane, Australia,” Thornton said. “He is a proven achiever in the public and private sectors who is praised as a decisive team player with competitive drive, outstanding leadership skills and communications expertise.”

Gengelbach comes to Fort Worth from Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, where he has served since 2013 as vice president of business development for Smelter Service Corp. aluminum company and its owner’s related ventures, including real estate and community development with a focus on local education reform.

Prior to that, he served as president of the public-private Maury County Chamber and Economic Alliance. He re-energized the Columbia, Tennessee-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.

“There is no better place in the country to live, work and raise a family than Fort Worth and the surrounding area,” Gengelbach said. “Fort Worth is truly the envy of the country right now in terms of livability and economic development and I’m thrilled to be joining the team.”

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Earlier, 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.

In addition to his MBA, Gengelbach holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, where he met his wife, Alison. They have two sons. A runner, Gengelbach is a four-time qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

www.fortworthchamber.com/