The United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce has chosen a new president and CEO. Al Arreola Jr. of San Antonio will replace retiring President and CEO John LaRue on Oct. 24. 
Arreola headed the South Texas Business Partnership in San Antonio for more than eight years. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and a native of Del Rio, where his father serves as mayor. While with the South Texas Business partnership, formerly the Southside Chamber of Commerce, Arreola oversaw a merger with the West San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. He was active in other civic endeavors in San Antonio, serving as board chairman of the San Antonio Mobility Coalition and president of the TAMU-CC San Antonio Alumni Association. 
In 2016, the San Antonio Business Journal named Arreola one of its “40 Under 40” honorees, noting he was “credited by many having transformed the culture and redefined the Southside Chamber of Commerce.”
Prior to his time with the South Texas Business Coalition, Arreola worked in political campaign management, including the re-election campaign of state Rep. Joaquin Castro. From 2010-14, he was executive director of the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce.
chuck@thepicayune.com