Following a national search, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has named Sharon Mason as President and CEO. Mason currently serves as Chief Operating Officer for the organization and will assume her new role on January 1, 2018. As President and CEO, she will lead the Chamber’s efforts to create jobs, strengthen the economy and quality of life for businesses and the community while building Cobb County’s reputation regionally, nationally and beyond.
Mason has 15 years of chamber experience, including the past decade at the Cobb Chamber. She has held varying leadership positions of increasing importance. During Mason’s career, she has increased engagement among Chamber members and recently led the organization’s 5-year strategic planning process while increasing membership. As part of the leadership team, Mason helped to raise more than $3 million for Cobb’s Competitive EDGE, the first comprehensive community and economic development strategy for job creation in Cobb County. Since its inception in 2012, the EDGE program has led to more than 22,000 new jobs and $2.5 billion in new private investments in Cobb County. Mason succeeds David Connell who will retire at the end of the year following seven years leading the Chamber.
“Sharon Mason is the right person for the job,” said Gary Bottoms, chair of the Cobb Chamber Board of Directors and president of The Bottoms Group, LLC. “She inherits a strong chamber and engaged business community. Over the years, she has worked closely with David Connell to create a national reputation for Cobb County and deliver creative solutions to recruit and retain businesses. We are grateful for David’s leadership and his contribution to the growth of our county, and we are excited to embrace Sharon Mason’s vision for the future.”
The Cobb Chamber Board of Directors unanimously approved Mason for the role. The national search began in August and was led by a diverse, ten-member Selection Committee, including: Rob Garcia, Synovus Financial Corp.; Gary Bottoms, The Bottoms Group, LLC; Trey Sanders, Brasfield & Gorrie; Ed Richardson, Richardson Management Group; Kim Menefee, WellStar Health System; Secret Holland, Gas South; Dr. Grant Rivera, Marietta City Schools; Rob Hosack, Cobb County Government; Jon Ingram, Boy Scouts of America; and Britt Fleck, Georgia Power.
“We had a large pool of highly-qualified candidates to consider for this position,” said Rob Garcia, who chaired the CEO Selection Committee. “Sharon Mason impressed us with her knowledge and experience in Cobb County and the region. We believe she can lead the organization to new heights by enhancing the Chamber’s culture of service, strategy and innovation.”
“I am excited and honored to accept the role of President and CEO of the Cobb Chamber,” said Sharon Mason. “I know as a business community we can achieve great things by working together to advance a vibrant economy. It is important that we continue to offer programs and services that are beneficial to our members, while also addressing the education, workforce and business climate needs of our community. The Chamber will continue to be a leader, ensuring that Cobb County remains a great place to live and work.”
Mason is an Atlanta native and an active member of the Cobb County community including serving on the MUST Ministries Board of Directors, Marietta Rotary Foundation Director in 2015-2016, and Past President of Friends for the East Cobb Park, to name a few. She also is active in the region including currently serving on the executive committee for the Regional Business Coalition, the Atlanta Regional Commission’s strategic planning steering committee and is presently in Leadership Atlanta. She is a graduate of Leadership Cobb, Honorary Commanders, Regional Leadership Institute, Chamber Institute for Organizational Management and is active in these alumni associations.
Mason has a bachelor’s degree from Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. In addition to the Cobb Chamber, Mason also has worked for the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and the American Cancer Society. She lives in Cobb County with her husband and daughter. They are active at North Point Community Church.