Peoria, IL 3-17-2016 The Board of Directors for the Greater Peoria Business Alliance (GPBA), parent organization of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce and CEO Council, announced today that Mr. Jeff Griffin has been named the CEO of the Greater Peoria Business Alliance (GPBA). As CEO of the GPBA, Mr. Griffin will serve as the CEO of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce as well as the CEO of the CEO Council. His appointment is effective immediately.
Tom Hammerton, Volunteer Chairman of the GPBA, Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce and President of the OSF Healthcare Foundation stated, “Since the time of his appointment to the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce on February 10, 2014, Jeff has demonstrated an effective and collaborative leadership style, strengthened the Chamber of Commerce and developed strong relationships throughout the community. Applying these skills to the organization will help us grow, prosper and deliver value to the community and members.”
Jeff Griffin also expressed his excitement regarding his new position, “The strength of our members in the Chamber and CEO Council are incredibly strong and quite frankly, we are a group that moves the needle. This is a new role in which I am honored to serve and one I take very seriously. We exist for our community members and my team of staff and volunteers live that mission every day.”
Prior to joining the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, Jeff served as President of the Wooster (Ohio) Area Chamber of Commerce for four years and was selected through a national search process. Jeff graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.A. in Criminology and then received is M.S. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. Jeff’s career includes over twenty years of experience in social services and youth counseling. He worked for the Village Network in Wooster for ten years, including three years as Regional Director. In addition, he worked as a Social Worker for Father Flanagan’s Boys Home/Girls and Boys Town in Nebraska and as a Social Worker for the Fort Worth Independent School District. Jeff and his wife, Rosy, chose to commit to our community when they relocated to Peoria with their three children in 2014.
The CEO Council consists of over 65 business CEO’s and community leaders who share a common interest in developing the Greater Peoria Region as a destination place to work and live. By working together, these business leaders provide insight and energy that helps fuel real and meaningful changes that benefit the entire community.
The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce represents over 1,000 businesses and is the leading voice and resource for business in the region. It has seen its membership grow and its Young Professionals Organization lead the effort that resulted in Peoria being named an All America City in 2013. The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce board, staff and volunteers remain committed to Greater Peoria’s quality of life, workforce development, business retention, and legislative advocacy.
