- November 23, 2024
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Rick Fraser has been a member of the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce since 1999 and has resigned as president of the Center for Business Excellence, effective Oct. 1.
BY WAYNE GRANT | STAFF WRITER
Rick Fraser said, “It’s good to be home.”
A member of the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce since 1999, including stints as board president and vice president for economic development, Fraser said that he’s excited to be named the new executive director. The hiring was announced Saturday.
“I hope to be able to give back to the community,” Fraser said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
Fraser resigned as president of the Center for Business Excellence effective Oct. 1. He said his plans were to retire until the opportunity at the chamber came along.
“The stars all aligned,” he said. “It just seemed right.”
Dan Warren, of the Volusia County Council on Aging and current president of the chamber board, called Fraser’s experience with the CBE good background for job.
“He has a close relationship with business in this community, through his work with CBE and Team Volusia,” Warren said. “He brings a wealth of local and regional knowledge, experience and talent to our chamber.”
President-Elect Chris Butera of NAI Realvest agreed, saying Fraser’s resume “speaks for itself.”
“He’s well known in the community,” Butera said.
Fraser, a resident of Ormond Beach, said he sees good things happening locally.
“I drive Granada Boulevard a couple of times a day and sometimes more,” he said. “The Sunoco station is going to be a landmark. Bill Jones is getting things done. Ormond MainStreet is active.”
Fraser said that Ormond Crossings is a positive development, as well as the planned Hard Rock hotel in Daytona Beach and expansions at Daytona International Speedway.
“This growth will impact Ormond Beach,” Fraser said. “We are one county and we need to pull together.”
The chamber's previous executive director, Tony Capozzi, resigned June 21. Dozens of applications were received for the position from all over the United States. A chamber selection committee chose Fraser and he was elected by the chamber board of directors.
Fraser is currently the chair of the board of directors of the Advanced Technology College. Other local board service includes PACE Center for Girls, Volusia County Schools Career Connection Cadre, YMCA, Bethune-Cookman University Board of Councilors, United Way, Enterprise Flagler and Halifax Habitat for Humanity.
Prior to joining the CBE, Fraser was a human resource manager with Ocean Design Inc., Command Medical Products and Coronado Paint, all local companies.
He has been active with the Volusia Manufacturers Association. He was the 1994 member of the year, 1998 chairman, and a member of the executive committee from 1994 to 2000.
The executive director is the full-time, day-to-day leader of the chamber. Other salaried positions at the chamber include a director of operations, event planner and membership director.
