Dana Davis will retire as CEO of Greater Bentonville chamber

Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce CEO & President Dana Davis will retire Aug. 15, the chamber announced Friday (June 16).

Davis joined the chamber as president and CEO in 2013, after leading chambers of commerce in Southlake, Texas, (2010-2013) and Lawton, Okla., (2004-2010).

“It’s been an honor to serve the greater Bentonville area and I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to participate in so many things positively impacting the entire region,” Davis said, according to a chamber press release.  “I am proud of the accomplishments the chamber has made over the past four years and I am excited to see what comes next for the community and the chamber.”

The chamber has introduced a number of initiatives since Davis came aboard, including an annual small business awards program, a small business “hub” training program, the NWA Technology Council, the NWA Technology Summit.

Davis also helped bring the Young Entrepreneur’s Academy to the region, according to the release. YEA is a program that helps students in grades 6-12 start their own businesses.

“Dana has done an outstanding job putting the Greater Bentonville chamber on strong footings, and he has been a vocal leader on some important initiatives for our community,” Board Chairman Craig Rivaldo said in the release. “We appreciate his leadership and his dedication and effort to restore the chamber to a position of financial strength that will allow us to take on new projects and efforts that positively impact our members and the communities we serve.  With a balance sheet that has nearly tripled under Dana’s leadership, we are now able to take measured risks as we explore new opportunities.”

Vice president of communications Debbie Griffin said Davis intends to stay in the Bentonville area following his retirement.

The chamber is in the process of developing a job description for its new leader and will appoint a search committee, according to the release.