Charlottesville Chamber Appoints Larry Banner Vice President

(Charlottesville, Virginia - April 21) The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce today announced that it has appointed Larry Banner its Vice President.

"As a matter of our ongoing organizational and operational practice, Larry has served in the capacity as a 'second-in-command.' Our Chamber now recognizes Larry's key role with the new title as our Chamber Vice President," said Timothy Hulbert, Chamber President and chief executive. This new title recognizes Larry's substantial and growing role with our Chamber. I trust and rely on Larry, have great confidence in his professional skills and, even more importantly, his intellectual strength and integrity. "

"Our Chamber professional staff is just that - professional," added Ivo Romenesko, President of the Appraisal Group, Inc. who serves as 2004 Chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors. "Our organization knows we can rely upon their full effort and dedication. Larry is very deserving of this recognition of his effort and his value to our Chamber and our Chamber members."

"It's an honor," Mr. Banner said. "I appreciate the confidence and I also appreciated the recognition of my work at our Chamber and in our community."

Mr. Banner, with an extensive background in journalism and communications technologies, joined the Chamber professional staff in December 1999 after having been with the Real Estate Weekly for five years, serving as Publisher in his last year and a half. Prior to this appointment as Chamber Vice President, Mr. Banner has been the Chamber's Director of Membership & Communications where he has developed a number of Chamber initiatives including, Chamber Bits, the Chamber's national award-winning electronic member newsletter.

As Chamber Vice President, Mr. Banner will continue to develop and manage the Chamber's membership and communications activities under the general direction of Mr. Hulbert. While Mr. Banner keeps an active Chamber community meetings schedule, he will also represent the Chamber President at business and community meetings when Mr. Hulbert is unable to do so. While Mr. Hulbert continues his full schedule, he was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma and is currently undergoing a schedule of chemo/immunotherapy treatments. He expects to make a full recovery.

A native of Leesburg, Virginia, Mr. Banner received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University in Palo Alto, California and holds a Masters degree from the University of Virginia. Mr. Banner, his wife Kathy, and their three children live in Albemarle County.

The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to representing private enterprise, promoting business and enhancing the quality of life in the greater Charlottesville communities. The Chamber has 1,200 member enterprises which together employ more than 45,000 men and women in the Greater Charlottesville region, representing an estimated total payroll of more than $1.3 billion a year.


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