- Feb 21, 2022
Chamber President to Retire in June
Tensley Garris has announced her plans to retire at the end of June, after 20 years leading the Northbrook Chamber. A search committee has been formed to recruit a new Executive Director as her successor.
Tensley came to the Chamber in 2002, after serving as the first Executive Director of Chicago’s North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau (CNSCVB). As president, she has represented the Chamber on the Northbrook Industrial & Commercial Development Commission and Economic Development Committee, as well as the Village’s Comprehensive Plan task force in 2010. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Northbrook Bank & Trust Company and the CNSCVB. A native of North Carolina, Tensley has been a Northbrook resident since 2012; she and her husband Harley Korman now look forward to splitting their time between Northbrook and Arizona.
“It’s been a privilege and pleasure serving the Northbrook business community. I’ve always been impressed by the creativity, ingenuity, and tenacity of our members. I will miss all of it.” commented Garris
“During Tensley’s tenure, she has guided the Chamber through a period of organizational growth, civic engagement, and, most recently, adaptation with COVID,” notes Chamber Board Chair Julie Lerman. “She has been instrumental in building a strong working relationship with the Village and fostering a supportive atmosphere that welcomes all types of members. She has also been a thoughtful and conscientious steward of the Chamber’s finances, building reserves that were essential to the Chamber’s ability to maintain full operations during the pandemic. We wish her all the best in her well-earned retirement. She will be greatly missed.”
The search for a new Executive Director began in February with guidance from a committee including Julie Lerman, past Board Chair Bob Caldwell, past Board Treasurer Steve Schmit, and past Village President Sandy Frum. A complete job description can be viewed on LinkedIn or Indeed.com. The committee welcomes referrals of qualified candidates from Chamber members; resumes and cover letters may be forwarded to tensley@northbrookchamber.org.
