MANHATTAN — Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce has announced Jason Smith will succeed Lyle Butler as the next President and Chief Executive Officer.
Smith joins the Manhattan Area Chamber after an extensive national search conducted through executive consultant firm Waverly Partners and the chamber’s own 13-person search committee. Smith is expected to start in the position in March.
Most recently, Smith worked at Norman (Okla.) Economic Development Coalition, as the president and CEO, a position he’s held since August 2015. His economic development and Chamber experience extends to Abilene, Texas, Lincoln, Neb., and McAlester, Okla. He spent nearly 10 years with the Lincoln Chamber as VP of Economic Development and cooperated jointly with a 14-member oversight committee to Lincoln Partnership for ED as well as President of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce where he oversaw economic development, tourism and military affairs.
Smith has led award winning programs including in 2012 when Business Facilities named Lincoln the top economic development program in the country and Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, named Lincoln as a national finalist for Chamber of the Year. In addition, Smith has held a variety of leadership roles including serving as President of the Nebraska Economic Developers Council and on the board of the Oklahoma Economic Development Council.
Smith replaces Butler, who announced his retirement from the Manhattan Chamber last May which had marked an 18-year run of significant successes with the Chamber.
