Lakeland Chamber selects Amy Wiggins as new president

LAKELAND – The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce announced Friday that Amy Wiggins has been selected as its new president and CEO.

The Chamber’s executive committee voted to approve Wiggins on Tuesday for the position after a search committee completed its search and interview process, a press release stated.

Wiggins, 43, is set to take the helm on March 9. She is currently the executive director of the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra, and she has a long history with the chamber and several other community organizations.

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Chuck McDanal has been serving as the interim president and CEO of the Chamber since the resignation of Cory Skeates, who had been in the job since 2015, the Ledger previously reported.

Wiggins praised McDanal's tenure.

"Chuck has been a great leader in the interim, so I don't think there is a void or gap during the interim," she said by phone Friday.

“From economic development to education, a strong business community strengthens every aspect of our daily lives,” Wiggins said in a prepared statement from the Chamber. “Together with the Chamber's board leaders and more than 1,200 investor businesses, I know our future is smart, strong and connected. I am honored to be the one chosen to lead our Chamber into the future,” she stated.

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Amy Wiggins began her career in public relations and communications with the Chamber

Wiggins began her career in public relations and communications with the Chamber. From 2005 to 2015, Wiggins served in a resource development and membership recruitment role and later as vice president of communications at the Chamber.

Her LinkedIn account lists Chamber experience in social media, monthly and annual publications, community relations and event planning, among others. The first job on her social media account list YMCA of West Central Florida in a variety of roles.

“Amy’s previous experience with the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce along with her focus on organizational sustainability and data-driven strategies makes her the right choice to lead our Chamber,” said Stacey Heacock Weeks, chair of the Chamber’s board of directors.

“We are excited to work with her to create a collaborative environment for promoting our business investors and community,” Heacock Weeks said.

As executive director of Lakeland Symphony Orchestra, she led the group’s transition from volunteer to professional musicians. She also led the organization's rebrand, from its previous name of Imperial Symphony Orchestra, to better reflect its connection to community, the release stated.

Wiggins also has volunteered for multiple organizations.

She served on the board for both Lakeland Vision and Polk Vision, is a member of Mayor’s Council on the Arts, is the current president of Polk Art Alliance, is past-president of the Polk County Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association and is current board chair of Linking Community Now.

Wiggins will oversee a staff of eight at the Chamber and work closely with the executive committee and 38-member board to carry out the Lakeland Chamber’s mission as "the catalyst for business success, Convener of leaders and influencers, and Champion for our thriving community," the release stated.

She will also support the Lakeland Chamber Foundation’s focus on addressing business education and workforce development.

“The Chamber is an incredible resource for businesses today, and the excitement and vision for the future of business growth through Chamber programs will strengthen our value to the entire community,” Wiggins said.

“The challenges of the past 24 months have inspired a renewed focus on resilience, creativity and collaboration. Lakeland's business community is smart and innovative – I'm ready to listen,” she said.

Wiggins lives in Lakeland with her husband, Michael Guerrero, a former auto racing journalist and current Polk County employee. In their spare time, they attend to a greyhound adopted from GST’s Sun State Greyhound Adoptions that they named Attie.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland Chamber of Commerce selects Amy Wiggins, symphony director, as CEO