ST. LOUIS, Jan. 20, 2011 - Richard C. D. Fleming, whose leadership as CEO andpresident has helped transform the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association (RCGA)into a key driver of the metropolitan area's policy agenda and economic development, plans toleave the organization by the end of 2011, it was announced today.
Fleming will continue to serve as the organization's president and CEO this year until hissuccessor has been recruited, and will assist the Board in the search for his successor, said BobReynolds, RCGA Board Chairman and chairman, president and CEO of Graybar.
"Dick Fleming has been indispensable to the St. Louis region for the better part of twodecades, and, without question, is one of the top chamber and economic developmentexecutives in the country," Reynolds said. "But after countless civic contributions, Dick wants anew challenge in his career. He has our full support."
"I love this job, this organization, and this community, and I'm proud of the outstandingstaff team we have developed here," Fleming said. "But after nearly 17 years here at the RCGAand more than 30 years leading economic development organizations, I'm ready for the nextchapter of my career."
Reynolds, who has served three years as RCGA chair, will be succeeded tonight by TomVoss, president and CEO of Ameren Corp., at the RCGA's annual membership meeting. Reynoldssaid the announcement was being made today because the RCGA's executive committee hadapproved the transition plan this morning at its regularly scheduled meeting, and theorganization wanted to be timely in informing its members.
Voss said a committee would be appointed in the next several weeks to conduct anational search for Fleming's successor.
"Finding a worthy successor to Dick will be challenging, but Dick has in one sense madethe job easier for us," Voss said. "He has raised the RCGA's level of performance andreputation, both regionally and nationally, to the point that we expect a robust list of qualifiedcandidates for the position."
Fleming, 65, was recruited to St. Louis from Denver, where had been president and CEO ofthe Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce and, earlier, president and CEO of the DowntownDenver Partnership. Previously, he served in Washington, D.C. at the Department of Housingand Urban Development in Washington; in an economic development position in Atlanta; andas a developer with The Rouse Company in Baltimore. He holds an MBA from the WhartonSchool of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of City &Regional Planning, also from Penn. He chairs three national non-profit boards, and serves on anumber of others, local and national. |
