Simonton To Lead Chamber

The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce search committee is pleased to announce the selection of Shelley Simonton to lead the Chamber as President/CEO. The Wyoming native has extensive experience with organizations in Jackson Hole and strong connections throughout the Cowboy State. She will begin in March 2017.

Chamber Chair Joe Madera remarked, “Shelley is a proven leader. We’re confident that she will provide strong vision and direction for the Chamber as the organization opens a new chapter.”

The search committee reviewed nearly 40 resumes over the past month and interviewed a number of highly qualified candidates before selecting Simonton. Madera noted, “The committee had a weighty task and spent many volunteer hours working with the interest of the Chamber in mind. We’re incredibly excited and optimistic that Shelley will continue to add strength and relevancy to the Chamber while advancing the Chamber’s mission.”   The Chamber recently completed a new strategic plan to address the current needs of Chamber members and the community of Jackson Hole. As President/CEO, Simonton will be responsible for refining the plan and executing the vision of the board.

Jackson Town Manager Bob McLaurin has worked with Simonton in a number of roles. He commented, “As the new leader of the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, Shelley will have an opportunity to add value to the organization through the relationships she has fostered throughout the state of Wyoming.”

Simonton will return to Jackson Hole from Cheyenne where she currently serves as the Executive Director of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities. She will replace Jeff Golightly who served the Chamber from 2012-2016. Under his tenure, the Chamber reinforced its position and earned a Five Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The award is indicative of the strength of the board of directors, the staff, and the membership. Golightly commented, “I am thrilled that Shelley is the next leader of the Chamber. She is the type of leader that along with a great staff and board will be able to advance the mission of the Chamber, and make it stronger and more relevant than ever. I applaud the Board for selecting an incredibly talented and passionate advocate for our community and businesses. I look forward to watching her succeed.”

For more information, please contact Board Chair Joe Madera, 307.413.3300 or [email protected].