New President and CEO of OMCC Announced

For Immediate Release (Feb. 27, 2014)                       Contact:  Hank Masler, (510) 874-4808

                                                                                         hmasler@oaklandchamber.com

Barbara Leslie named President/CEO of
Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

Long-time Oaklander; Former AT&T, City
and Oakland Chamber Executive returns to take the helm

Oakland, CA – Today, the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce announced that it has selected Oakland resident and community leader Barbara Leslie as its next President/CEO after a national search.  Leslie was most recently Director of Government Affairs at AT&T.  Leslie replaces interim CEO Dan Quigley and will begin in April 2014.

Oakland Chamber Board Chair Shannon Pedder said, “Barbara Leslie is a proven leader and a long-time Oaklander.  We welcome her as someone ready to lead, grow, and engage the business community to improve lives and the business climate.”

“This is my dream job,” said Barbara Leslie.  “I’ve dedicated my professional career to growing the Oakland economy.  Now I get to make it a reality.”

Leslie added, “I am honored to be able to lead the Chamber at a time when Oakland is realizing the potential that we have all known is here. Oakland’s unique strength is its combination of innovation, diversity, and commitment to community.  I look forward to helping the Chamber be the engine of Oakland’s expansion.” 

Barbara Leslie has 20 years of experience in local, state and federal advocacy on behalf of business in Oakland.  In her most recent role, she was a key player in government affairs for AT&T in Alameda County. 

Previously, she was the head of the Oakland Realtors Association, an executive in the City Manager’s office, and a long-time advocate to elected leaders on the business climate.  She has an extensive network of personal relationships across the business, government and civic community. 

She has already held leadership positions at the Oakland Chamber including serving as Executive Director the Leadership Oakland program, serving as a founder of OakPAC, and as a volunteer chair of the Public Policy committee.  She has also been a Board Member of Chambers as diverse as Hayward, Berkeley, the Oakland African-American Chamber and Walnut Creek.  She also served a member and Chair of Oakland’s Workforce Investment Board.

She holds Bachelors of Science, Business Administration & Economics from St. Mary’s College and a Masters Public Administration, MPA from San Francisco State University.  She lives in Oakland with her husband and two children.

Pedder added, “Our members wanted someone who could implement the Chamber’s vision for Oakland.  Someone who could build on the positive momentum in Oakland – whether it be the major infrastructure improvements, the growing presence of technology companies, building consensus on public safety issues and supporting the rising restaurant scene.  We looked far and wide across the state and the country and found our ideal leader right here in Oakland.”

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About the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

The Oakland Chamber of Commerce is 109 years old and represents over 1,000 members and 2,000 affiliates in Oakland and across Alameda County.  Among its signature accomplishments, the Oakland Chamber has led an annual MegaRegion Summit to focus on economic growth, has conducted an annual survey of Oakland voters to inform policymakers, identified a series of businesses annually to honor as local innovators, and continues to conduct extensive member programming.