Thursday, the Glendale Chamber of Commerce announced the appointment of Joshua Gunn as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, effective at the beginning of June 2024.

With a career spanning two decades in business and chamber leadership, Gunn brings an entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to community impact to his new role.

A graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, his journey began with the launch of his first business at the age of 19, instilling in him a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing small business owners.

Gunn's leadership has been instrumental in driving change across various communities in the United States, including in North Carolina and Illinois. His approach has earned him national recognition, being named a Top 40 Chamber Executive Under 40 by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

Gunn demonstrated the power of collective impact in addressing critical business challenges such as workforce development, talent attraction, and business advocacy. During his tenure at the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, he played a pivotal role in attracting significant investments from industry giants like Google and Apple, while also spearheading initiatives for small business revitalization.

In his most recent role as CEO of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce in Illinois, Joshua led groundbreaking programs like The Big Table and the Regional Workforce Alliance, alongside securing state investments in talent attraction that were unprecedented in their scale and impact.

"We are thrilled to welcome Joshua Gunn as the new President and CEO of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce," stated Lisa R. Baker, chair of the Board of Directors, in a press release. "His track record of transformative leadership and commitment to community empowerment make him the ideal candidate to lead our organization into its next chapter of success."

Gunn said he envisions fostering collaboration, innovation, and resilience as the pillars for sustainable growth and prosperity in the Glendale community and beyond.

"I am absolutely thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to spearhead the Glendale Chamber into this next transformative chapter,” Gunn stated. “Glendale stands as the epicenter within the rapidly expanding West Valley, and I am fully committed to harnessing the collective power of our diverse community and continuing the tradition of excellence at the Glendale Chamber. We will foster a collaborative culture among our members, both large and small, visionary business leaders, in tandem with our dedicated staff and esteemed non-profit, educational, and community leaders, to forge a more prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future for all."