By Shane Cleveland
VBJ Staff Reporter
McKibbin steps down to assume principal role in Camas/Washougal RiverWalk development
The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce announced today that President and CEO John McKibbin will step down from his position at the end of this month. McKibbin has accepted a position with RiverWalk on the Columbia LLC, a public/private partnership proposing to create a mixed-use waterfront development on about 60 acres at the Port of Camas/Washougal.
"I will be able to be part of something that is a huge community asset," said McKibbin. "It’s going to be a lot of fun and a lot of work."
He will be the principal spokesperson for the project and work collaboratively with the community and public sectors, he said.
"I have spent a good part of my career in both the public and private sectors," said McKibbin. "It is challenging and fits my skills very well."
McKibbin has been with the chamber for more than three years. In that time, its membership has grown from 1,050 members to 1,470 members.
The chamber is in an excellent position today, said McKibbin, noting that it is financially stable and prepared to launch a number of initiatives it has been working on.
The chamber said in a statement that negotiations are underway with a highly qualified local candidate to replace McKibbin.
"The community will be very pleased with my successor," he said.
Earlier this week, the chamber promoted Tina Clark to the newly-created position of general manager. She joined the chamber two years ago in member services.
The chamber also announced it is moving its offices to a larger and more visible location later this month to the former JD Fulwiler Insurance office at 11th and Broadway streets downtown. The chamber’s board has approved a 10-year lease for the new location.
