The Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership (CEP) announced today that its first CEO, Kevin T. Sheilley, CCE, has submitted his resignation after 12 years. It was simultaneously announced that he has been hired as the new President & CEO of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce in Charleston, SC.
Sheilley was hired by the CEP shortly after it was formally created in late 2012 with the merger of the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce and the Ocala/Marion County Economic Development Corporation. Over the last dozen years, the organization led the community’s incredible economic rebound and was named national Chamber of the Year in 2020, a finalist for this award in 2017 and 2019, and Florida’s Chamber of the Year in 2018.
“The Ocala Metro CEP and the communities it serves have been fortunate to thrive under Kevin’s exceptional leadership,” said CEP Board Chair Chris Langley. “He will certainly be missed, and the board wishes him well in this next chapter of his career. The organization as a whole is well-positioned to move forward, and with a strong and capable team in place, they will no doubt experience continued success and even greater achievements ahead.”
The CEP and its related entities today lead the community’s efforts at Business Attraction, Business Retention, Entrepreneurship, Advocacy, and Business Services. It spearheaded both the recent renewal of the Infrastructure Salex Tax and the passage of the ½ Penny for Schools. The organization also embarked on a nationally recognized partnership with Lake County to contract manage economic development.
Incoming CEP Board Chair Charisse Rivers has appointed a search committee composed of herself, three past Board chairs (Doug Cone, Ken Ausley, and Angie Lewis), long-time CEP Board Secretary and past Chamber Chair Dwayne Carlton, and Board Vice Chair Todd Rudnianyn. The committee will be chaired by Cone and will conduct a national search for the next President & CEO.
Sheilley’s last day with the CEP will be on Friday, 31 January 2025.
About the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership
The Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership (CEP) was created to be a one-stop hub for the community’s business attraction, creation and retention efforts. The CEP’s mission is to be THE catalyst for a prosperous community. The 2020 ACCE National Chamber of the Year, the CEP has directly impacted the announced creation of more than 13,000 new jobs and more than $2.3 billion in capital investment over the last decade.
For more information, visit: OcalaCEP.com.
