Sarah Watts has dedicated nearly two decades of her life to the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce, and she has been the president for five years.

Watts began working as a receptionist at the chamber when she was  a senior in high school, through her connection with then-CEO Kathy Tilque, Watts said.

“I have at one point done all of it (the different jobs within the chamber),” Watts said, “which helps me to better relate with my team, because I can honestly say I have been in their shoes.”

Watts met Tilque’s son, Sean, at Chandler High School in the late '90s, Watts said. The high school sweethearts got married in 2004, soon after Watts graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. 

Watts’ connection with Tilque led to the two partnering to create an “executive assistant” position for the Gilbert Chamber in 2008. It was meant to be a temporary arrangement, Watts was just there to help develop the position as a consultant, Watts said. 

Before long, they realized that Watts was the one for the job. 

Sarah Watts, left, still makes use of her journalism degree through the Gilbert Chamber's Guiding Growth Podcast with Modern Moments' Ben Kalkman, center. Here they interview Chandler Gilbert Community College President CJ Wurster.

“A lot of people would assume that working for your mother-in-law was the easy route,” Watts said. “I would argue that working with any family is never the easy route.”

Watts made it clear that Tilque never let their personal relationship affect the way she treated Watts, and it was under her leadership that Watts was able to prove herself, Watts said. 

“Sarah just became more and more invaluable to the Chamber,” Tilque said. “The chamber was always very business focused, but Sarah brought the heart to the chamber programs. She brought the priority of really helping the community. ” 

In her capacity as executive assistant and subsequent marketing roles, Watts helped to start the Gilbert Chamber Foundation, which is a secondary nonprofit that operates alongside the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce. 

Much of the programming that Watts created while in these roles is still used today, Watts said. She also managed internal HR, bookkeeping and special events management. 

Watts became the CEO of the chamber in 2020, and under her leadership the chamber staff has doubled in size, Chairman of the Chamber Board Matt Harrison said. 

Harrison’s role as chairman is to advise Watts and provide her with different perspectives. Harrison described Watts’ work to grow the Chamber as “strategic and organic."

“She brings people in and gives them an opportunity to grow themselves,” Harrison said. “Her ability to grow her team and make sure she has the right support has been a pleasure to see.” 

Sarah Watts, center, and other Gilbert Chamber of Commerce members meet with Senate President Warren Petersen, left of Watts, at the Arizona Capitol.

Courtesy Gilbert Chamber of Commerce

Watts is a “dynamic female leader” who inspires women to have a strong community presence, Harrison said. 

Watts said one of her main focuses is to set the culture within the chamber and to be a liaison between the community, the businesses and the town. 

One of Watts’ proudest accomplishments with the chamber so far is the Adopt-a-Senior program that began about 14 years ago, Watts said. This program supports low-income seniors in the community.

“The outpouring from the community is incredible,” Watts said. “That means something to me.” 

Watts has stayed true to her roots and still operates many of the programs that she ran prior to being named CEO in 2020, she said. 

Elaine Kessler, workforce & community partnerships director for the chamber, holds Watts' previous position before becoming CEO. She leads the Chamber Foundation and works closely with Watts. 

Prior to her position with the chamber, Kessler was a chamber member as a business-owner. She has known Watts for years, Kessler said. 

“She leads with love,” Kessler said. “I think that that’s remarkable in today’s society, that someone actually cares about the people they work with and the people that they serve.”

Cassie Kresin is a student in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.