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Darrelyn Bender, President & CEO, Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce
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Since 1996, Darrelyn Bender has served as President & CEO of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce. During her 14 year tenure, the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce has become one of 249 accredited chambers of commerce out of the 6,900 chambers in the United States. This is a prestigious honor that distinguishes the high quality, expertise, and strong leadership of a chamber.
She is a visionary and enjoys working with volunteers and staff to achieve community goals. She handles the day to day management of two locations, with fourteen full and part time staff.
In the last fourteen years, some of the highlights have been:
• One of the first Chambers in the nation to form an Environmental Committee
• Implemented the nine month Youth Leadership program
• Created the Eastern Shore Chamber Community Foundation
• Secured a presence on I-10 for the Eastern Shore Welcome Center
Darrelyn was appointed to represent the Eastern Shore area for the Economic Development Alliance of Alabama; she is on the State Board of Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel and is up for reappointment for her third term. Darrelyn has also served on the Alabama Tourism Council for nine years. She is a graduate of the Institute of Organization Management for Chambers of Commerce and of Leadership Baldwin County.
Darrelyn is a proud founding member for two organizations:
• Impact 100 Baldwin County benefits the non-profits of Baldwin County, awarding $85,000 the first year and $98,000 the second to “impact” local non profits.
• SouthcoastUSA partners tourism professionals from New Orleans to the Beaches of South Walton in Florida to collaborate and market the Gulf Coast with “coopetition”.
Darrelyn is currently working with business organizations to form the Gulf Coast Alliance for Economic and Environmental Resilience. This group is committed to keeping businesses strong across our region impacted by the oil spill.
In her capacity as Chamber President, Darrelyn has served in various leadership roles including: Chairman of the Board for the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama, on Lowell Barron’s Emergency Response Commission to address the health care crisis in the state of Alabama and a past president of Baldwin County United. Currently she is serving on the boards of: Baldwin County United; Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance; Blakeley Historic Park; Blakeley Historic Park Foundation, as vice president; and the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, on the executive board and education committee.
Darrelyn grew up in California and received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Art & Design from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Darrelyn has two adult daughters and one granddaughter. She has spent over twenty years in Alabama and resides in Spanish Fort, Alabama where she owns and has operated her own marketing and design business for over twenty-five years.
For further information on Blueprint for a Better Tomorrow, please contact Patrick Brennan at The Chamber of Commerce Office 251.928.6387 extension 3141 or BBT@eschamber.com.
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