Mike Griffin, the community president for First Tennessee Bank in Cleveland, Tennessee, for the past seven years, has been named president and CEO of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce.
Griffin, a 23-year banker, fills the vacancy created when Gary Farlow retired from the Cleveland Chamber earlier this year after heading the Bradley County business group for the past decade.
Mike Griffin, president and CEO of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of CommerceGriffin recently served as the co-chairman of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce Momentum: '22 community investment campaign. He previously served on the chamber's board as the chair-elect and public affairs vice chair for 2017 and 2018. Besides his chamber volunteer servant leadership, Griffin is currently chairman for the United Way of the Ocoee Region; vice chairman of the board for Cleveland State Community College; vice president for the Rotary Club of Cleveland; a member of Cleveland's Health and Education Board, and chairman for Erlanger Health System.
"We are delighted to have such a qualified, capable, and service-minded person step in to lead our organization to new heights," said Kimberly Casteel, of USA Mortgage and chairman of the Cleveland Chamber board. "We look forward to Mike's leadership, and the achievements and successes that our community will enjoy as a result."
Griffin is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and earned advanced professional certifications in Commercial Lending and Banking from Vanderbilt University. While at First Tennessee Bank, he was responsible for managing the Cleveland community market.
Additionally, Griffin was previously chair for Junior Achievement of the Ocoee Region; the Museum Center at 5ive Points; and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Alumni. Griffin is also a graduate of Leadership Cleveland and Leadership Chattanooga. He served on the Alumni Board for Leadership Chattanooga on various committees and chairman in 2010. Among Griffin's many honors of distinction and awards for dedicated service, he was recipient of the 2010 Servant Leadership Award by the Tennessee Association of Community Leaders.
"This search was about finding the individual best equipped to take our Chamber to the next level and we feel Mike Griffin is that leader," said Bob of McIntire & Associates Insurance and chairman of the President & CEO Search Committee for the Chamber.
Griffin, who assumed his new job today, said he is "deeply honored" to head the Chamber.
"We have a great foundation to build on and I believe our best days are still ahead," Griffin said in a statement Monday.