Jim Page announces upcoming departure as chamber president and CEO
December 5, 2022
Jim Page, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama for the past decade, announced today that he will be leaving the organization in March 2023. The announcement was made during the Chamber’s board of directors meeting. Page has accepted an offer to become Executive Vice President of MartinFederal Consulting, LLC.
Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, MartinFed has more than 150 employees across nine states providing technical solutions in cyber, engineering, information technology, and training to multiple federal organizations including NASA, the FBI, ATF, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense. In this new role, Page will lead all government relations efforts, manage corporate and organizational partnerships, oversee corporate marketing and branding, and provide leadership for mergers, acquisitions, and integrations.
“I have been blessed to enjoy 20 great years in the chamber industry and I am beyond proud of our extraordinary accomplishments here over the past 11 years, but this is an amazing career opportunity for me in the private sector to join a dynamic, fast-growing company. In addition to working with an incredibly talented team on critically important programs that provide for the safety and security of our nation, it also gives me a chance to scratch a longtime entrepreneurial itch,” Page said. “The icing on the cake is that this takes Sara, Elly, Emery, and I back home to Huntsville and much closer to our family.”
Page has led the Chamber since January 2012 and has overseen tremendous organizational growth. He has spearheaded new programs and events to meet the diverse needs of the business community, while dramatically increasing membership, financial resources, and engagement.
Page has also played an instrumental role in significant initiatives impacting the entire community, including the development of The EDGE - Incubator and Accelerator; passage of legislation that created the Tuscaloosa County Road Improvement Commission, overseeing tens of millions of dollars in local infrastructure improvements; the launch and growth of the nationally-recognized West AlabamaWorks workforce development system; creation of the West Alabama Workforce and Community Development Center; and chamber industry-leading response efforts to support local small businesses during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama was named the 2021 Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.
Page is a member of the boards of directors of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, the Business Council of Alabama, and the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama, of which he is a past chairman. He is a graduate of the University of North Alabama and serves as a member of its Board of Trustees.
“Jim Page has worked tirelessly through the Chamber to make this community better in so many ways,” Tripp Powell, chairman of the Chamber’s board of directors, said. “This opportunity for Jim to take the next major step in his career is one he simply cannot let pass. While I’m sad to see Jim, Sara, and their precious girls leave, I’m excited for their next chapter and for them getting closer to family. I also know the future of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama is brighter than ever.”
Powell will immediately appoint a committee of prominent business and community leaders to facilitate a nationwide search for a new president and CEO. The goal is to have a seamless leadership transition upon Page’s departure in March.
“The timing of this transition has been very important to me because of my love for this organization and its people,” Page said. “The Chamber now has a new five-year strategic plan, is completing a highly successful five-year capital campaign, and is settled into its expanded physical footprint in the heart of downtown Tuscaloosa. With a bold vision for the future, exceptional volunteer leadership, and a world-class professional staff all in place, this organization is stronger than at any point in its 122-year history. I can’t imagine a better time to hand the baton over to a successor to take the Chamber to even greater heights.”