By Amy Ramos, Vice President of Communications
After five years at the helm of the Dallas Regional Chamber, organization President and CEO, U.S. Ambassador (ret.) James C. Oberwetter plans to retire at the end of March.
“For the past five years it has been a privilege to serve as President of the Dallas Regional Chamber. It has been inspirational to work in the company of such distinguished business and political leaders of Dallas and this area. Together we have found ways to improve an already great Dallas institution and to focus its work on issues that matter to the future of Dallas and the entire region,” said Oberwetter in a recent letter to the board and key organization volunteers.
Oberwetter became President of the Dallas Regional Chamber in February of 2009. Under his leadership the chamber established a comprehensive strategic plan which sharpened the organization’s focus on economic development, advocating for pro-business, pro-jobs public policies, and for improving educational outcomes for local students. He helped lead the effort by North Texas Chambers in support of the recent statewide water election and worked in concert with the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce in support of the American Airlines, U.S. Airways proposed merger.
Prior to service with the chamber, Oberwetter was personally selected by President George W. Bush to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in November 2003 where he served until 2007. Before his Ambassadorial service he was Senior Vice President of Hunt Consolidated, Inc., of Dallas where he advised on governmental and public affairs strategies domestically and internationally. Oberwetter has also served as press secretary to then Congressman George H. W. Bush and as special assistant to the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He was educated at the University of Texas at Austin, graduating with a BJ degree from the School of Communications.
A successor to take the helm of the chamber has not yet been named. A selection committee is in place and an executive search firm has been retained to help fill the position.
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