Alex Wilmer
Nassau County has a new Chamber of Commerce president & CEO, with an eight-year employee tabbed to lead the organization.
Director of Operations Alexandra Wilmer said she started in a marketing capacity and worked her way up. She said she considered it an honor to first be named interim president, then selected for the full-time role last week.
“It’s not a hard job to love because we have a really special business community in Nassau and I’ve been blessed to be a part of that the last eight years,” she told the News-Leader.
Wilmer replaces longtime President Regina Duncan, who retired last year, and was instrumental in advancing chamber initiatives and strengthening connections across the county’s business community, a press release said. The organization highlighted Wilmer’s “experience and perspective” that provide the chamber with momentum.
“Alex has demonstrated unwavering commitment to our Chamber and the community it serves,” Chamber Board Chair Dunia Taylor said. “Her leadership, dedication, and understanding of the Nassau County business community make her the right person to guide us forward.”
The chamber has approximately 750 members. Wilmer said she wants members to know that they are a part of something bigger than themselves. She wants members to use the chamber’s networking and educational resources, but she also wants them to feel important.
“It’s my hope that every new member that joins truly feels it's a space where they can call and ask for recommendations, they can call and get help if they’re struggling in any aspect of their business, or they can ask for virtual connections we can provide,” Wilmer said.
In Nassau County, business owners take advantage of chamber events and like “putting a name to a face,” Wilmer said.
“You never know who you’re going to sit next to at an event,” Wilmer said. “You don’t know what they need or who they know that needs something. You have no idea the reach of those small connections. It’s vital for doing business in Nassau County.”
Wilmer currently has a team of two employees, Programs & Events Manager Allyson Myrick and Office & Membership Coordinator Samantha Nance and said she hopes to potentially add more staff.
“They have been instrumental in helping us get through this transition period. Those two women are just amazing and I’m lucky to be able to work with them,” Wilmer said.
The release said Wilmer will focus on strengthening partnerships, expanding outreach and visibility across the county, and implementing improvements to better serve chamber members and the broader community. That also includes a strategic plan for the next three to five years.
Wilmer said she’s working on behalf of the county’s entire business community, not just one area. It’s a diverse community that Wilmer said she’s proud to serve.
“We all want the same thing and that’s one thing I love so much about Nassau County,” Wilmer said. “At the end of the day, we all care so deeply about this community. We all want the right decisions to be made at the local government level and we all want businesses to thrive. That’s true across the board from Fernandina Beach to Bryceville.”
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