The head of Beaufort’s chamber of commerce is stepping down. Here’s what’s next
The head of the organization that advocates for business in Beaufort is moving on.
Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Blakely Williams announced last week she is leaving her post at the end of January.
Williams has worked at the Chamber since 2007 and been in charge since 2011. She will begin a new role in February at Dominion Energy in economic development and local government relations for a six-county region and will remain in Beaufort.
“It has been a tremendous opportunity, and I’ve been so thankful for that privilege to serve,” she said Monday.
The nonprofit, membership-based group is charged with advocating for local businesses and workforce issues, working to recruit new business and supporting issues relevant to northern Beaufort County’s three military bases and the community’s military members.
Under Williams in 2018, the Chamber’s tourism arm split off to become the Greater Beaufort-Port Royal Convention and Visitors Bureau, an independent Designated Marketing Organization. The move came amid questions of transparency in similar organizations and how public money given to chambers to promote the area is spent.
Chamber leaders have been at odds with local government officials at times in recent years.
The Chamber of Commerce sued the city of Beaufort in 2018 amid a dispute over operation of two popular festivals. As part of a settlement, the Chamber will continue operating the Beaufort Shrimp Festival and Taste of Beaufort.
Williams said she was proud of the Chamber’s work supporting the arrival of the F-35 jet at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. A second F-35 training squadron is expected to call the base home in 2020.
“It’s very exciting to see that come to fruition,” she said.
She also noted the creation of the visitors bureau and the chamber’s economic development efforts as highlights from her tenure as president.
The group’s board of directors has formed a search committee to hire its next president. Williams will stay on until Jan. 31.
Ben Coppage, a Beaufort attorney and chairman of the Chamber’s search committee, said the process is starting immediately and the group hopes to identify Williams’ replacement over the next few months.
“I hate to see her go, but she’s left a great framework for success going forward,” Coppage said. “And we’re very happy shes going to continue being in the community serving the Lowcountry and businesses here.”
