Terri L. Cole, CCE, President and CEO
Terri Cole
became the President and CEO of the Greater Albuquerque
Chamber of Commerce in 1983, having been on staff of the
Chamber since 1978. In 1985, she graduated from the
Institute of Organization Management from San Jose State
University, and in 1988 she became one of only 250 Certified
Chamber Executives in the nation. She is currently one of
only 13 Presidents/CEOs in the nation who have been with the
same chamber organization as President/CEO for 23 years or
more. She did under-graduate work at both the University of
New Mexico and New Mexico State University. In 1991, she
served as Chair of the Stanford University Institute of
Organization Management and in 1995, was the first female
chairperson of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives
Association.
Terri is
recognized nationally for her leadership and business
acumen. Under her presidency, the Chamber has grown to be
the largest business organization in New Mexico and is
regarded nationally as a model for Chambers of Commerce.
Appointed by
Governor Richardson as Chair of the State Office of
Workforce Training and Development Board, she also serves as
Chair of the New Mexico Coordination Oversight Committee
which is comprised of a number of state cabinet secretaries
as well as representatives of the business community.
Terri also
serves as a member of the prestigious U.S. Chamber Committee
of 100, on the National Governors Association of State
Workforce Board Chairs, UNM Science and Corporation board
and as a member of the New Mexico Foundation for Open
Government board as well as serving both currently and in
the past as a board member of numerous other organizations
and entities.
She and her
husband, Dr. Jim Cole, have two children, seven
grandchildren and two West Highland Terriers.
Don Chalmers, Chairman-Elect
Don Chalmers, a Tulsa native,
moved to New Mexico twelve years ago with his wife, Dianne.
Chalmers is the owner of Don Chalmers Ford in Rio Rancho and
Albuquerque, Don Chalmers Cadillac Saab and Don Chalmers Capitol
Ford in Santa Fe, and Thrifty Car Sales in Albuquerque. He is an
active philanthropist in Central New Mexico in four focus areas:
education, healthcare, economic development and community
service, and is committed to helping strengthen the communities
in which he does business.
His board memberships include
UNM Board of Regents, St. Joseph Community Health Foundation,
Better Business Bureau (past President), Wells Fargo Community
Board, Quality New Mexico, Association of Commerce and Industry,
New Mexico Amigos, Economic Forum (past Chairman), Greater
Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, ACCION New Mexico, United Way
of Central New Mexico (past Chairman), Rotary del Sol Club (past
President), and Fellowship of Christian Athletes National Board.
Chalmers received a Ford Motor Company Hero of the Planet award,
and is a member of the FMC President’s Circle. Don Chalmers Ford
also earned the 2005 New Mexico Quality Zia Award. Community
awards include NM Chapter of the Association of Fundraising
Professionals 2002 Leader in Philanthropy; United Way of Central
New Mexico 2001 Outstanding Community Champion; National Jewish
Hospital Foundation 2004 New Mexico Spirit of Achievement; 2006
Governor’s Distinguished Public Service; and 2006 Junior
Achievement New Mexico Business Hall of Fame.
The company recently
celebrated the seventh year of winning the prestigious Ford
Motor Company “President’s Award” for outstanding customer
service and market share.
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Paul
Sowards is president of Bank of Albuquerque, N.A. He has
direct responsibility for all commercial banking activity.
He also serves as a member of the board of directors for the
bank. Paul joined Bank of Albuquerque in March 2000. With
more than 28 years of experience in banking, he has an
extensive background in commercial lending, capital markets
and credit administration.