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Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce names president its CEO

August 20,2020

See full Fort Worth Star-Telegram article here.

The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce board of directors on Thursday named president Brandom Gengelbach chief executive officer.

Gengelbach succeeds Bill Thornton, who retired in July after 20 years as CEO/president. Gengelbach joined the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce as executive vice president of economic development in November 2016.

Before coming to Fort Worth, Gengelbach served as president of the Maury County Chamber and Economic Alliance in Columbia, Tennessee. He also worked for the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the Chamber and work alongside Fort Worth business leaders and the Fort Worth community at this pivotal time in our region” Gengelbach said in a news release. “I am equally humbled and energized to lead the Chamber into a new phase of transformation and growth.”

Martin Noto, chairman of the Chamber board and executive vice president and chief lending officer of Inwood National Bank, said in the release that Gengelbach’s experience has prepared him for the role.

“We are excited to begin working together and for the future of the Chamber,” he said. “His leadership has been invaluable to our members during the pandemic, he and staff have worked hard in providing resources and guidance along with reassurance that Fort Worth will persevere.”

Gengelbach grew up in the Houston and Plano areas. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southampton, near London, where he was a Rotary ambassadorial scholar. He received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.