Mary Berlie, (Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, Courtesy)
GRAND ISLAND – The Grand Island Area Economic Development Corp. and Grand Island Chamber of Commerce share a president and are studying how the two entities will be organized, said Mary Berlie, president of both groups.
“We’re taking all of 2025 to analyze the organizations,” Berlie said.
The situation occurred after a change in leadership at the Chamber of Commerce happened. Cindy Johnson retired in December 2023 as president of the Chamber of Commerce after serving in that role for 20 years. Then the Chamber of Commerce hired Jamie Karl in February 2024 as president, but he resigned in June 2024, leaving the Chamber without a leader.
The two organizations issued a news release in December 2024 that they were “uniting under one roof.” Each organization is continuing to operate as a separate entity, but Berlie serves as president of both groups. The Chamber of Commerce staff moved from the Chamber’s long-time location on Second Street to the Economic Development Corporation’s office on the second floor of the Yancey Hotel building at 123 N. Locust.
Berlie said both organizations had worked together for a long time.
“With the retirement and departure of Cindy Johnson, it was a great opportunity for both boards to see what next could happen with the Economic Development Corporation and Chamber of Commerce,” Berlie said.
The Chamber of Commerce has 3.0 FTE employees, and the Economic Development Corporation has 2.5 FTE employees.
The Chamber has a big, beautiful building,” she said. A building subcommittee is studying what to do with the Chamber of Commerce’s building.
“We’re exploring all of the options,” she said.
“My day continues to be busy supervising the two organizations,” Berlie said.
Boards of the two organizations were combined.
“There’s no right or wrong answer on how to do this,” Berlie said concerning the operation of the two organizations. “We’re studying many organizational structures.”
She said that Lincoln, Omaha, and Hastings have combined their Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development organizations. Grand Island is also studying Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development organizations in Yankton, SD; Minot ND; Bismark ND; and Greeley, CO.
The new arrangement offers several advantages. First, there is enhanced collaboration between the two groups. Second, businesses have a single point of contact for economic development and business services. Finally, the unified leadership provides a strong voice in advocating for issues that support economic growth and business development in Grand Island.
Grand Island’s Chamber of Commerce has 750 member businesses. The Chamber of Commerce continues to have groups such as Chamber Connectors and Young Professionals. The Connectors host ribbon cuttings, groundbreaking ceremonies, and Business After Hours. The Young Professionals is a group open to people ages 21 to 40 and provides networking, volunteer, and educational opportunities.
So for the time being, the two organizations will continue to operate separately but share Berlie as president, and have both offices at the same location. The office site will stay in place until a permanent office location is identified, Berlie said.
