Chamber VP Morris to serve as interim President, CEO
From staff reports
Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ian Scott is leaving for a job closer to home.
According to an email Friday from Graham Somerall, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce, Scott has accepted a position as Vice President of Advocacy at the Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro in North Carolina.
Scott and his wife Rebecca are originally from North Carolina and still have family there. His last official day will be Thursday, Nov. 30.
“We’re going to miss Ian,” Somerall wrote. “He arrived during the height of pandemic uncertainty and has made significant contributions to this organization and our community. During his tenure we adopted a new strategic plan, launched our Regional Prosperity Dashboard, partnered with the County, City, and Town to develop a long-range plan for the future of the Naval Hospital, and expanded our public policy work. We also grew the membership, moved offices, and were named the best Chamber in the Carolinas for 2022.”
Scott started at the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce in April 2020. Prior to coming to Beaufort, Scott served as Senior Vice President of Government Relations at the Charleston Metro Chamber, where he led a four-person team focused on regional, state, and federal advocacy and military retention.
Prior to his role in Charleston, he led communications for the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, a national professional association based in Alexandria, Va. He began his career at the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, China.
“Beaufort is an incredible community with a rich history and vibrant businesses,” Scott said at the time of his hiring. “I am honored by the opportunity to serve employers and help the region emerge even stronger from this period of national uncertainty.”
Scott grew up in North Carolina and earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
In the same email, Somerall announced that Chamber Vice President Megan Morris will assume responsibilities as Interim President & CEO, effective December 1.
“For 2-plus years, Megan has been the driving force for the Chamber’s member service programs, signature events, communications, and core operations,” Somerall wrote. “She’s a Beaufort native with a passion for this community. I am confident in her ability to keep the Chamber moving forward after Ian’s departure.”
According to the email, the Chamber will undertake a comprehensive executive search process to select its next full-time President & CEO. Somerall wrote the Chamber hopes to identify prospective candidates from “inside the community and across the country.”
Somerall said more details about the search process, including candidate profiles and timelines, will be released in the coming weeks. Those with thoughts about the ideal profile for the Chamber’s next leader are encouraged to share them with Somerall at graham.somerall@htc.hargray.com.
“Through this leadership transition, our focus on the Chamber’s mission and priorities remain consistent,” Somerall wrote. “We exist to promote economic prosperity in the region and to support local businesses with advocacy, information, and connections. Our President is changing, but our commitment to serving our members and engaging with community leaders is steady and strong.”
This story will be updated.
