The Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit business association organized for the purpose of advancing the economic, civic, commercial, industrial, social, environmental, cultural, and general interest of the people of Morristown and its trade area.

Chamber History

The Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce was born when the Morristown Board of Trade and the Young Men's Commercial Club of Morristown, adopted a resolution consolidating the two clubs under the name of the Board of Trade of Morristown on January 13, 1913. Mr. J. N. Fisher was the first elected president.

On March 1, 1920, the Morristown Board of Trade voted to change their name to the Morristown Chamber of Commerce. The President at this time was Mr. Lynn Sheeley.

On December 29, 1924, a Charter of Incorporation was issued to The Morristown Chamber of Commerce. The signers of this Charter were:

Charles S. Stephens
R. L. Moore
Lynn Sheeley
E.M. Shelly
Judson Hill

For many years the Morristown Chamber of Commerce was housed in the Kingmeyer Hotel. On October 4, 1959, the present building was dedicated. The Chamber building underwent an exterior facelift in 1971 and extensive interior renovation in 1979-80. In 1994 the Chamber building underwent another renovation and an expansion, doubling the size of the facility.

Mr. W. H. Inman was Secretary of the Chamber for twenty years prior to 1952. In 1952, the Chamber hired its first full-time manager, Richard Ordway. Following is a list of Chamber Managers:

Richard Ordway 1952-1959
R. Jack Fishman 1959-1965
Don Hollifield 1965-1969
T. L. Seahorn 1969-1971
R. J. Jones 1971
Stephen B. Holt, CCE, CEcD 1971-1985 (title changed to Executive Vice President)
Marc J. Sudheimer 1985-1994
Steven W. Benefield 1994-1997
Joseph W. Davis, Jr. 1997-1999
C. Thomas Robinson, CCE, CEcD 2000-Present (title changed to President & CEO)

In 1972 the Board of Directors changed the name of the Chamber to The Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc. to include not only Morristown, but also the surrounding trade area.