Bonnie Lowe has been selected as the next President and CEO of The Chamber, Lawrence, Kansas. Lowe is currently serving as the Chief Operations Officer and has worked for The Chamber in that role since 2013. Lowe will succeed current President and CEO Larry McElwain, who is retiring in January.
Lowe has extensive leadership experience within the Lawrence community. She served a four-year term on the Lawrence City Commission, with one year as Mayor of Lawrence. She was also the Chair of The Chamber’s Board of Directors in 2009. She currently sits on boards for the Bioscience & Technology Business Center, the Kansas Health Insurance Association, and serves as Secretary for the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Kansas.
“I am honored for the opportunity to lead The Chamber that I’ve been supportive of for many years,” said Lowe. “We have an outstanding staff, and I look forward to hearing from members with their thoughts on how we can continue to improve.”
A transition committee comprised of Chamber board members and community leaders from both the public and private sector conducted the search for the next President and CEO. The search attracted applicants from across the country. The Chamber’s Chair of the Board of Directors, Michele Hammann, said Lowe was selected from a group of high quality candidates through a meticulous and detailed search process.
“We had a large number of candidates to choose from, but Bonnie is the right choice for The Chamber,” Hammann said. “She knows and loves Lawrence, understands the community, enjoys great relationships with our partners, and will be able to take The Chamber to the next level with her vision and leadership.”
Lowe previously served as a senior investigator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Topeka and as a community bank president in Lawrence. She has a bachelor’s degree in finance from Fort Hays State University, and is completing her certificate from the Institute of Organizational Management, the premier nonprofit professional development program for chamber professionals fostering individual growth through interactive learning and networking opportunities.
About The Chamber, Lawrence, Kansas
The Chamber, Lawrence, Kansas, is a non-for-profit organization that promotes the economic vitality of Lawrence and Douglas County. The Chamber represents the interests of our members and the Lawrence & Douglas County business community by facilitating strategic partnerships for the benefit of our community, educating the community on the benefits of economic development, advocating for local and regional competitive economic viability, and promoting civic leadership and community engagement.
