The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce has chosen a longtime San Antonio businessman and former city council member to lead the organization.
Jeff Webster, who represented District 10 from 1995 through 1999, has spent the bulk of his 35-year career in business development, most recently for Jacobs Engineering Group.
The chamber, which restored “Greater” to its name in June as part of a larger rebranding effort, had been hunting for a new chief executive since Richard Perez stepped down in late 2022.
“With his extensive experience in business development and a commitment to growth and prosperity in our region, Webster is the ideal candidate to lead the Chamber into the future,” stated the chamber in a press release Tuesday evening.
Webster will assume his role as president and CEO on Dec. 1. Interim Greater chamber president and CEO Dave Petersen will return to his role as executive vice president of the chamber.
“On behalf of the Greater San Antonio Chamber and the entire community, we extend our warmest welcome to our new president and CEO,” stated board chair Katie Harvey, founder and CEO of KGBTexas Communications. “Under Jeff’s leadership, we look forward to a future of prosperity, collaboration and growth that will make a lasting impact on our vibrant city and the greater San Antonio region.”
Webster joins the board as chambers of commerce across San Antonio work to redefine their roles in a post-pandemic world and within the region. The San Antonio chamber added “Greater” back into its name in part to reflect its goal of becoming a more regional player in its business advocacy, Harvey said at the time.
Before the pandemic, a membership campaign pushed the number of members to about 2,100; the group now claims about 1,750 members.
Last month, the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce announced it had chosen Brett Finley to head up that organization, replacing Cristina Aldrete, who also stepped aside in 2022.
The Greater and North chambers held ultimately unfruitful merger talks last year.
The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is still searching for a replacement for Marina Gonzales, who left the top post earlier this year to create Gonzales Wolff Business Solutions with former county commissioner Kevin Wolff.
While the chambers work to redefine their value to members, Greater:SATX, which grew out of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, has taken the lead on business attraction and retention, expanding its own reach to cover what it calls the “mega-region” along the Interstate 35 corridor up to Austin.
“I am truly honored to have been chosen to lead the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce,” said Webster in a statement. “San Antonio and its surrounding region have immense potential, and I look forward to collaborating with our diverse business community, stakeholders and partners to foster economic growth, create jobs and enhance the quality of life for all residents.”
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and KGB Texas Communications are financial supporters of the San Antonio Report. For a full list of business members, click here.
