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Chamber CEO intends to make some noise

A self-described change agent, he wants the group to be proactive in the community.

By PAUL SWIDER
Published October 1, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - His team now in place, John Long is poised to start shaking things up at the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and in the community.

"We have no intention of being quiet," said Long, 60, who took over as president and CEO of the 106-year-old business organization in January. "We need to be loud sometimes."

When Long interviewed last year, he made it clear he was a change agent. He was prepared to have the chamber's search committee send him back to Kalamazoo, Mich., where he had garnered awards for innovative programs.

Long has shaken up the staff, finished filling out his senior ranks and is ready to implement a progressive "quality-of-life" agenda.

"It's important that we step up to issues like poverty, workforce housing, homelessness," Long said. "Those are not the sorts of things a chamber walks away from."

Long carried out a similar program in Kalamazoo. Last year, his poverty reduction initiative was honored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as the nation's best. He also created a jobs summit he plans to replicate here.

"He has a great track record," said Ford Kyes, president and CEO of St. Anthony's Hospital and a member of the chamber's governing board.

Long knows such an agenda will not please everyone, but says he'd rather risk losing members because of action than inaction. Some say St. Petersburg is ripe for such leadership.

"Chambers by reputation are a little stodgy," said Craig Sher, president and CEO of Sembler and a past chairman of the board. "Maybe he's getting a little too ambitious, but I'd rather we were more that way. The more vibrant the better. Let's have some lively debate, kick it around."

Among Long's other aims is minority community outreach. For that, he hired Alma Ayala to lead the business and economic development team. Ayala also will reach out to the African-American, Hispanic and Asian communities in the region.

"I'm thrilled with the staff choices," said Cory Adler Leidersdorff, of Keller Williams Gulf Coast Realty and vice chairwoman of the chamber's women's business development division. "The chamber has to represent the community we have, not the community we had 10 years ago."

Paul Swider can be reached at 892-2271 or pswider@sptimes.com or by participating in itsyourtimes.com.

[Last modified September 30, 2006, 22:29:52]