For Immediate Release

BIRMINGHAM BLOOMFIELD CHAMBER ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT

BIRMINGHAM, MICH., May 26, 2010 – The Board of Directors of the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber is pleased to announce the appointment of Joe Bauman as the new president of the 650-member organization effective June 2.

“The selection process yielded a well-qualified field of candidates. Joe distinguished himself as a long-time Chamber advocate with a great passion to be a highly effective business resource in the community,” reported Selection Committee Chairperson John Roberts. “He brings a wealth of knowledge, enthusiasm and first-hand understanding of how to guide the Chamber forward as a leading business organization.”

“I am honored and grateful the Chamber board has the confidence in me to lead the organization,” Bauman said. “I have had the pleasure of serving the Chamber and the greater Birmingham community for many years as a volunteer, and I am very excited to have the opportunity to help the Chamber continue to grow and prosper in a full-time capacity as President.

“Carrie Zarotney has provided outstanding leadership as President and has an outstanding team in place. These truly are exciting times for the Chamber and I am thrilled to be able to play a role in a very bright future.”

Joe was a journalist for more than 25 years, the last 19 with the Observer& Eccentric newspaper chain. Hewas a reporter, editor and assistant managing editor. In 2000, he was named Managing Editor of the Eccentric Newspaper Group, and spent 18 years covering the greater-Birmingham community.

Prior to his appointment as President of the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber, Joe was employed by USIS as a contract investigator for the United States Office of Personnel Management. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Chamber and will be replaced by Brian Henry of eTitle as Board Chair.

Joe is active in the community, serving on the advisory board for The Community House, is a director and past president of the Birmingham Rotary Club, and a board member and treasurer for the Livonia Meteors Soccer Club. He also is a graduate and past Director of Leadership Oakland, and serves his Church as vice-chair of the St. Maurice Catholic Church Parish Council.

Under Bauman’s leadership the Chamber is preparing to unveil two new tools to support membership: a Member Login area of the Chamber Web site complete with an online resource library and an iPhone application that will give members added exposure and ability to be found. Details of each will be announced soon.

The Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber is a membership organization dedicated to promoting the economic development, strengthening the business climate and improving the quality of life in the six communities it serves: Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township and Franklin, Mich. For more information, visit http://www.bbcc.com/.

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