Matthew Baumgartner has been selected as the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce’s new president, the Chamber’s board of directors announced in a news release Wednesday morning. Baumgartner will take the helm from David Ross, who is retiring at the end of July after 24 years.
Baumgartner is the general manager and director of government affairs for Grandma’s Restaurant Corp. He has been on the Chamber’s board of directors since 2016 and has served as board chair.
PREVIOUSLY: Ross to retire as president, CEO of Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce
He is the president of the Canal Park Business Association, a member of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center Board of Directors and Finance Committee and a board member for the Duluth Area YMCA Association as well as the FIRST Robotics Regional Planning Committee. Baumgartner also serves on the Spirit Mountain Task Force.
The Chamber’s executive search committee credited Baumgartner’s experience, connections and passion for business and the Duluth community for his selection.
“Thanks to the leadership and legacy of David Ross, the Duluth Area Chamber and Duluth’s business community are in a strong position and poised for growth,” said Daniel Fanning, chair of the Chamber’s executive search committee, in the news release. “Matt is the perfect leader to continue to build on that legacy and momentum, help guide our business community through the pandemic recovery and ensure that our Chamber members have the steadfast support they need to be successful.”
Baumgartner will begin his leadership with the Chamber on July 19. Ross’ last day at the Chamber is July 31.
Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO David Ross spoke about the chamber’s 150-year anniversary during the organization’s November annual meeting in 2020, which was moved online due to the pandemic. (Photo courtesy of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce)
“This will be the greatest honor and privilege of my career and I am extremely excited to start working with the talented board of directors and the Chamber staff,” Baumgartner said in the release.