By Matt McCormick
It is a true honor to join the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership as your new president and CEO. During my visits to Ocala and my conversations with members of this remarkable community, one thing has become abundantly clear—this is a place defined by excitement, growth, energy, and collaboration. My family and I are beyond thrilled to make Ocala our new home.
The CEP’s mission is to be “the catalyst for a prosperous community.” At its core, our work is about helping businesses do business—and thrive—in a vibrant, growing region. We are also a “convener of collaboration,” because economic development never happens in isolation. It takes partnerships among business, government, education, and the broader community, all working toward shared success.
The CEP has a proud history of supporting businesses, driving growth initiatives, and serving as a strong advocate for this region. I’m eager to build on that legacy while staying partner-focused and mission-driven. Over the coming months, my focus will be on listening and learning—hearing directly from you about what matters most. What challenges are you facing? What opportunities excite you? And how can the CEP be a part of helping you achieve success?
The hospitality we’ve already received has been truly humbling. So many people have reached out to welcome us, and we are deeply grateful. Many have also asked about my background and our family, so I’d love to share a little about us.
I’ve worked in the chamber and economic development field for more than 27 years, beginning in membership sales for a chamber in East Texas shortly after college. I quickly fell in love with the purpose behind this work—building stronger communities through business. Since then, I’ve served in leadership roles with chambers in Texas, Missouri, and now Florida. For the past 12 years, I’ve had the privilege of leading the Columbia, Missouri, Chamber of Commerce, where I worked in areas such as economic and workforce development, infrastructure and transportation, business advocacy, and community partnerships.
I’m blessed with a wonderful family (and yes, I might be a little biased). My wife of 28 years is a speech-language pathologist with a passion for helping others. Our daughter is a high-school freshman who loves theater, singing, running track, golf, and spending time with friends. Our son is a sophomore at Valparaiso University, studying business marketing and competing as a student-athlete on the swim team. We enjoy being outdoors, boating and having new adventures.
We look forward to meeting everyone soon. Thank you for welcoming us home.
