Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Board names Kay McDowell as CEO
LUBBOCK, Texas (NEWS RELEASE) - The Lubbock Chamber of Commerce (LCC) Board of Directors announced Kay McDowell as the next President and CEO succeeding Eddie McBride who is retiring after leading the Chamber since 1999.
McDowell will be responsible for leading a diverse team of volunteer business leaders and professional staff to fulfill the Chamber’s mission to strengthen, promote, and serve the Lubbock business community.
McDowell comes to the Chamber with more than 25 years of experience in consumer marketing, corporate reputation, and brand building. Most recently she was an Executive Vice President of Public Relations at Mitchell Communications, a dentsu mcgarrybowen agency. During her 11-year career with Mitchell she led integrated marketing campaigns for nationally recognized brands including Procter & Gamble, Mattel, Hot Wheels, Barbie, Cracker Barrel, Massage Envy, and Tyson Foods.
As a proven innovator and creator, McDowell developed products and services to help clients reach new audiences and marketing goals. She led multi-discipline teams executing business to consumer campaigns across a variety of industries including consumer packaged goods, toys, food/beverage, retail, franchise, arts, beauty, and sports.
Early in her career, McDowell worked for the city of Memphis promoting WONDERS, a cultural exhibition series created to drive cultural tourism to the city. During her tenure, the series won the distinction as the most attended cultural exhibition in North America.
McDowell is energized by the growth and change that is happening in the greater Lubbock area. Her leadership begins during Lubbock’s city-wide branding efforts, an initiative led by the Lubbock Chamber. The project is developing a community-wide brand that supports and elevates all city organizations, entities, businesses, and residents.
“Eddie’s strong and steady leadership over the past 22 years has resulted in an award-winning Chamber,” said McDowell. “I’m honored to be entrusted to continue the legacy of excellent leadership while growing the ways the Chamber serves and promotes our thriving Lubbock business community.”
The LCC CEO search was facilitated by a committee comprised of 10 Lubbock area business leaders and Chamber board members. The process was led by Dave Marcinkowski, Partner at Madera Residential and LCC Board Chair.
“Under Eddie’s leadership our Chamber has developed a highly-respected reputation. As a result, applications for the CEO position came in from Lubbock and across the country,” stated Marcinkowski. “Kay’s extensive experience in the marketing and PR industry and her leadership abilities made her the committee’s top choice to lead our Chamber as we enter a new era. Kay recently relocated from Nashville, Tennessee to Texas so she brings a fresh perspective.”
The LCC CEO search committee led by Marcinkowski included: Casey Doyle, LCC Board Chair-elect and Owner of Casey Carpet One; Gabe Vitela, LCC Immediate Past-chair and Owner of One Guy from Italy/Giorgio’s; Steve Beck, LCC Treasurer and Chief Administrative Officer at Covenant Hospital; Dana Madison, LCC Vice Chair Programs, Services, and Events and Owner of Advance Care Management; Becky Palmer, LCC Vice Chair Business Advocacy and President, West Texas Division, Atmos Energy; Cory Powell, LCC Board Past-chair and Director, TTU Office of Diversity and Inclusion; Adrienne Cozart, Senior Vice President Human Resources, UMC Hospital; Chris Berry, LCC Board Member and Owner of River Smith’s Restaurant and Eddie McBride, LCC retiring CEO.
To learn more about the Chamber visit www.lubbockchamber.com or follow the LCC on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
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