Improving the workforce, downtown redevelopment and diversification of the economy are among key goals the new Greater Dalton, Ga., Chamber of Commerce chief is interested in tackling.
Rob Bradham, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce's vice president of public strategies for the past five years, was named Thursday as president and chief executive of the Dalton business group.
Bradham, 39, said Dalton has "big ideas about the future."
"It's got a great sense of itself," he said. "It's a terrific community."
Bradham, who will remain in his Chattanooga post until Nov. 6, grappled with workforce development in his current job so he's familiar with that issue.
He termed downtown Dalton redevelopment "a fairly high priority."
Also, he said, diversification of the Dalton area's economy is important, and his group will work with the Joint Development Authority. The metro Dalton jobless rate dropped in September to 6.1 percent, the Georgia Department of Labor reported Thursday. That's down from 6.3 percent last month and sharply lower than the 7.9 percent rate a year ago.
But, Bradham said, one reason why Dalton area joblessness was high during the recession was dependence on the floorcovering industry, which is tied to housing.
"Floorcovering will always be important, but diversification is also important," he said.
Robert Smalley, a Dalton attorney and chairman of that Chamber's executive board, cited Bradham's work with two chambers of commerce and his experience dealing with policy matters and elected officials and business leaders.
Rob Bradham"That made him ready to take the next step," he said about the CEO job at the Chamber, which has about 1,000 members.
Chattanooga Chamber CEO Bill Kilbride said plans are to start a search to fill that business group's post, but added that Bradham is prepared for the new job.
"They're getting a great fellow," said Kilbride.
He said the Chattanooga Chamber will form a three-person committee to review the job description and the group will conduct a national search for a replacement.
"Everybody may pick some things up," Kilbride said. "We won't miss a beat."
In Dalton, Bradham will replace Brian Anderson, who was the president of the Chamber there for six and a half years. He left Dalton to head the Chamber of Commerce in Columbus, Ga.
Bradham came to Chattanooga after serving as senior vice president of business development and government affairs for the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce in Virginia.
Before joining the Richmond Chamber, Bradham was vice president and director of governmental affairs for the Organization Management Group, one of Virginia's largest trade association management companies.
He holds a bachelor's degree in history with a minor in political science from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.