Chamber names new leadership director, starts Alumni Network

"If it's fun, it's never work. And if it isn't fun, it'll never work."

This quote by surfboard entrepreneur Hobie Alter appears in Amy Thompson’s email signature because she feels it accurately represents who she is and what she does. 

Thompson is the new leadership director for the Leadership Cincinnati and Leadership Action development programs within the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber's new Alumni Network is also under her purview, which aims to connect the more than 3,000 diverse alumni of Leadership Cincinnati, Leadership Action, WE Lead, WE Succeed, C-Change and Cincy Next.

Before the network existed, the Chamber had six premier leadership programs under three separate alumni boards. Each group provided great networking events, behind-the-scenes experiences and social outings, but there was a desire to take alumni engagement to a new level: collaborating as one collective.

Thompson participated in both Leadership Cincinnati and WE Lead. Upon leaving those programs, she was energized and motivated.

“There was a strong personal desire to continue learning and connecting with the community, to engage with my new network and to figure out how I could make a difference," Thompson says. “Knowing that many graduates share the desire to continue developing, connecting and engaging, I was thrilled to take on this opportunity to lead the Cincinnati Chamber’s new leadership Alumni Network.”

The Chamber is harnessing the program's momentum, energy and buzz to increase engagement where it’s needed most, providing opportunities in personal leadership development; connecting with leaders of all ages through multi-directional networking; encouraging engagement in community issues and aligning efforts toward our region's greatest challenges and assets.

The network provides the space and connections for meaningful conversations. It also helps promote intentional volunteering and helps further advance projects that come out of its highly successful leadership programs, such as Preschool Promise and Crayons to Computers.

As membership grows, so will scholarships for future leaders who are in need of financial assistance for the Chamber's many programs.

To learn more about the Leadership Network and the Chamber’s leadership programs, click here.