Chairman’s Message / Past Chairman

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Garrett Anderson
Chair
Anderson Construction Company

Garrett Anderson

2022 Chairman

I am honored and proud to serve as the 2022 Chairman of the Board for the Bay County Chamber of Commerce. I’m grateful to be surrounded by a team of talented and hardworking board of directors, ambassadors, and Chamber Staff. This chamber team is made up of tremendous community leaders, volunteers at heart, and true professionals. I look forward to working with all our members and partners towards fulfilling our 2022 business plan.

The Chamber continues to play a vital role of our business community. I can attest, with over 8 years of being involved with Board of Directors and committees, that It provides wonderful opportunities to enhance networks, build relationships, strengthen partnerships, have a voice in public policy and community development. Membership is key and I want to thank our nearly 1,000 Chamber members and another 300 Military Affairs Committee members for your continued support. Without your support we could not effectively continue the Chamber Mission “to create superior value for all chamber members large and small, cultivate economic and personal development, promote and protect a competitive system of business, be a community leader while embracing Bay County’s opportunities and challenges.” I’m proud to say this mission statement is now incorporated in our main conference room wall and we will continue to re-visit as needed to make sure we are focused on our mission. If you are new to Bay County or currently not a member, We welcome you to our community and our chamber with arms open! We have many opportunities for you to jump in and get involved with networking and events.

This year the Chamber will focus on a number of initiatives and objectives. As always, our Legislative Agenda items will be front and center, our Governmental Affairs team is actively tracking over 25 positions at the local, state and federal levels. Some Key objectives identified at the annual board of directors’ retreat are the importance of the Panama City Marina Re-development, Appointed vs. Elected Superintendent analysis, Workforce housing, Trade education, and continuing to promoting retail and commercial development.

This is an exciting time for economic growth in our community, following a Cat 5 Hurricane and the Pandemic, we have shown we are a strong and resilient community. As you look around and just see what has risen in all four corners of Bay County, It is wonderful to see how our community is thriving and growing daily. With this new community development, the Chamber’s Key Objectives become even more so important and magnified. Partnerships with our local and state governments, promotion of workforce development and training, promoting education excellence, and workforce housing developments will be our focus for 2022.

Thank you Members and our Partners for helping to strengthen our business community and promoting local business. The Bay County Chamber of Commerce will continue to be front and center and send the message that “Bay County is Open for Business”.

To review the 2022 Business Plan, please click HERE.

Past Chamber Chairpersons

1913-1923 R.L. McKenzie
1924 Col. Henry Page
1925 W.C. Sherman
1926-1927 Sam Brown
1928-1929 W.F. Look
1930-1931 Will D. Muse
1932-1933 Jesse Cogburn
1934 J.R. Asbell
1935 A.R. Rogers
1936-1937 J.A. Smith
1938 B.S. Gordon
1939 S.A. Daffin, Jr.
1940 Braden Ball
1941 A.M. Lewis, Sr.
1942 B.S. Gordon
1943 George Logue, Sr.
1944 M.G. “Bubber” Nelson
1945 J.R. Asbell
1946 Cecil Kelley
1947 A.N. Smith
1948 Don Fay
1949 W.A. Guy
1950 W.C. Sherman
1951 Harvey Mathis, Sr.
1952 S.A. Daffin, Jr.
1953 Brown Howell
1954 John Christo, Jr.
1955 Isaac Byrd
1956 T.Y. “Tom” Bingham
1957 T.W. Smith, Sr.
1958 John Henry Sherman, Sr.
1959 L.E. Merriam, Jr.
1960 Alton Boyd
1961 Rowe Sudduth
1962 L.D. Lewis, Sr.
1963 Dick Arnold
1964 Hugh Nelson
1965 Woodrow Wilson
1966 D.P. Clark
1967 H.M. Lewis
1968 Jack Blackwell
1969 Frank M. Parker
1970 D.R. Hinton, Jr.
1971-1972 Deck Hull

1973 Girard L. Clemons
1974 Johnny Patronis
1975 C.L. Jinks
1976 Tommy Cooley
1977 Rayford Lloyd
1978 Abbott Browne
1979 Fred Lindholm
1980 Don Crisp
1981 Travis Crosby
1982 Gene Crist
1983 Larry Tyree
1984 Pedro Mandoki
1985 Gary Muller
1986 Scott Fischer
1987 Ted Haney
1988 Charles Jordon
1989-1990 John Robbins
1991 Jim McIntyre
1992 Bob McSpadden
1993 Larry Dantzler
1994 Anne Hull Dick
1995 Vic Jones
1996 Jerry Smithwick
1997 Thomas Neubauer
1998 Raymond Powell
1999 Franklin Harrison
2000 Joe Tannehill, Sr.
2001 Hugh Roche
2002 Karen Hanes
2003 Joey Ginn
2004 Scott Clemons
2005 Elizabeth Walters
2006 Glen McDonald
2007 Steve Southerland
2008 Andy Phillips
2009 Sean McNeil
2010 David Powell
2011 Bo Rivard
2012 Al McCambry
2013 Bill Fenimore
2014 Larry Carroll
2015 Andrew Levy and Michael Sears
2016 Robert Carroll
2017 Claire Sherman
2018 Doug Moore
2019 Will Cramer
2020 Andrew Rowell
2021 Chris Moore