New CEO takes the helm at Ozark chamber

Photo provided by Ozark Chamber of Commerce

Greg Williams brings 30 years of leadership experience to the role.

The Ozark Chamber of Commerce has a new president and CEO in place after a two-month search.

Greg Williams started May 3, according to a news release. He has past chamber experience, including a previous economic development position at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

"There’s so much opportunity in Ozark," he said in the release. "My first order of business as the organization’s CEO will be to listen to what issues are most important to current and prospective chamber members in the region, what expanded role the chamber can, and should, play in serving as a legitimate, credible voice of the business community, connecting members for business growth and making the chamber member experience more exciting, gratifying and valuable.”

Williams succeeds Anna Evans, who exited in March as the chamber’s executive director for a business retention role at the Show Me Christian County economic development organization.

Williams takes over a chamber with 375 members as of Jan. 4, according to Springfield Business Journal's 2021 list of the area's largest chambers of commerce. The Ozark chamber ranked No. 6 on the list.

He brings 30 years of leadership experience to his new position, according to the release.

Williams served 2012-14 as president and CEO of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corp. of Lawrence and Douglas County in Kansas; 2010-12 as director of university research parks for the University of Missouri system; 1995-2010 as senior vice president of economic development for the Springfield chamber; and 1988-95 as executive director of the Randolph County/Moberly Economic Development Corp.

Audrey Pauls, the chamber’s marketing and event manager, served as interim director since Evans' exit, according to the release.