Joshua Unterbrink was announced as the next president and CEO of the Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce during a Thursday morning press conference. He succeeds Jed Metzger, who led the organization for the past 25 years, on Jan. 1.
LIMA — The Lima/Allen Chamber of Commerce has selected its future leader.
Joshua Unterbrink will succeed current president and CEO, Jed Metzger, who is retiring effective Dec. 31.
“I’m honored deeply. Jed has been a remarkable leader over the last 25 years,” Unterbrink said.
Unterbrink aims to build upon the solid foundation created by Metzger and his team.
“My vision for the chamber into the future is to continue to advocate for our businesses, to make an environment where they can thrive and grow, and that our community is the best place to live, learn, work, worship and recreate,” he said.
Unterbrink began in Lima as a health and wellness director at the Lima YMCA from 2006 to 2012. In late 2012, he served as the Active Living team leader with the Community Transformation Grant until 2014 and has since served as co-director of Activate Allen County.
Metzger trusted the chamber’s board of directors to find a solid replacement, and he said believed they made the right choice.
“It was a challenging task for board chairman Mike Powell and the succession planning committee,” he said. “Josh is going to be a leader that will take the job seriously and take the chamber to another level.”
Powell expressed his confidence in Unterbrink’s leadership.
“Joshua brings a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities facing our community,” Powell said. “His passion for driving a positive change and his collaborative spirit make him a perfect fit for this role.”
Metzger served as president and CEO of the organization for 25 years and said he was interested in working for the Chamber Foundation part-time to continue working with Unterbrink.
Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351
