Time to start looking for another new chamber president. Cleo Rodriguez Jr. announced he is stepping down as president/CEO of the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce as of Friday, May 3.
Rodriguez began his tenure in August 2017, hitting town just before Hurricane Harvey. He got to work immediately, helping lead recovery efforts for small businesses in the Coastal Bend.
During his tenure, chamber membership doubled while he also worked to streamline operations following the merger of the Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of Commerce with the Corpus Christi Chamber.
“We are sorry to lose Cleo, his enthusiasm, and his knowledge of the local community,” said Philip Ramirez, chairman of the chamber board. “He has been a dedicated and energetic leader who helped us grow and become more engaged with our members. We wish him well in his new role and are grateful he will remain in the community.”
Rodriguez’s new job is the same as his old one. He is returning as executive director of the National Migrant Seasonal Head Start Association, working out of Corpus Christi rather than Washington, D.C., as before.
“While it’s difficult for me to leave the chamber, I’m fortunate that I can remain in Corpus Christi and stay involved with the local community and many friends that I’ve reestablished,” the Corpus Christi native said. “I am fortunate to have worked so closely with the incredible chamber team/champions and local business leaders and value the lessons we learned together.”
Ramirez said he will appoint a committee of board members to begin a search for Rodriguez’s replacement.
“I’m confident we will be able to find the right person who can build on our strong foundation and recent successes,” said the president of Turner|Ramirez Architects. “Corpus Christi is proud of its strong business community, and the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce will continue in its leadership role for the betterment of the entire region.”