The DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce has found a new president and CEO.
On an interim basis, at least.
The Chamber announced Monday that Kenneth E. Coleman had joined the organization in late November, filling the void created when then-CEO Katerina Taylor left for a new job with the city of Atlanta.
A news release described Coleman as filling the president and CEO position on an interim basis and will continue his work at the Georgia Power Company, where he is executive director for infrastructure projects, while leading the Chamber.
“We are delighted to be working with Kenny as we determine next steps for the Chamber,” Chamber board chair Brenda Reid said in the release. “His expertise and leadership will help us retool as we define the programs and services the Chamber will offer going forward.”
Reid told the AJC that “there has been no talk” of Coleman taking on the role full-time.
“We anticipate conducting a search for the position when the time is right,” Reid said.
Coleman's predecessor, Taylor, left the Chamber in October to become the executive director of WorkSource Atlanta, the city's troubled job training agency. Taylor had led the Chamber for about five years — taking over permanently after a fifth-month stint as interim president and CEO.
Taylor also has led the ongoing campaign to restore the original name of Commerce Drive in downtown Decatur; a portion of that road was once named Oliver Street after a successful African-American businessman who died in 1906.
During his 25-year career, Coleman has held a number of positions with Southern Company, the parent company of Georgia Power and many other utility providers. The New Jersey native also played minor league baseball for several years.
“It hasn’t taken long to discover the positive energy and can-do spirit of our community,” Coleman wrote in a recent email newsletter to Chamber members. “I am really proud to be a part of this great organization with more than 80 years of service to DeKalb.”
