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James Hizer Contact Jim

James N. Hizer, CEcD

President/CEO
Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

Since taking over the leadership role at the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce in June 2004, Jim Hizer has focused on continuing the Chamber’s strong traditions of economic development, partnership growth and retention, and grass-roots assistance to its business partners. Through his career, Jim has played a lead in creating many thousands of new jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of economic impact.

In his seven years as president/CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County, Ind., Jim steadily improved the area’s business environment to the point of being recognized as one of the top non-metropolitan areas in the country by Site Selection magazine. Building relationships in Europe and Asia, including an economic exchange relationship with a county in Germany, he was able to recruit foreign industries directly to Wayne County resulting in new jobs and significant economic impact. During his tenure over 3,000 new jobs were created and approximately $250 million in new investment was realized through his attraction, retention and expansion efforts.

Prior to his stint in Wayne County, Ind., Jim spent a dozen years in the Chamber of Commerce industry, beginning his career as the Business Development Director at the Daytona Beach (Fla.) Area Chamber of Commerce, and progressing through the ranks to CEO of the Clinton County (Ind.) Chamber of Commerce.

Jim received his Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs from Indiana University and is a graduate of the US Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management, Ball State Economic Development Academy, and the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. He has received instruction in Intermediate Japanese and Basic German languages.

Jim lives in Bowling Green with his wife of 15 years, Jane, and their daughter, Millie.