New leaders welcomed to Chamber leadership team
The Chamber is pleased to announce that the leadership team is fully staffed with the addition of:
- Brian Irby, Chief Strategy Officer
- Brie Collier, Vice President, Finance & Administration
- James Porter, Vice President, Talent & Inclusion
“I'm excited to welcome new perspectives to the Chamber leadership team,” said CEO LaDrina Wilson. “With a full team we will be able to re-engage our members in some of the past activities of the Chamber, but also create some new and innovative approaches to member services and economic development that take into account the fresh set of eyes we have on the business community’s challenges. The new faces combined with the knowledge of our existing dedicated leadership team members is a recipe for winning. I'm confident that our members will be just as excited about the possibilities before us once they've connected with our leaders on the leadership team.”
The three newest leaders come from diverse backgrounds that will make them vital members of the team, including decades of experience and expertise in their fields and proven track records of success.
Irby comes to the Chamber following over 20 years as a leader in the marketing and communications world. During that time, he managed many teams and worked with clients from all walks of life, from family-owned small businesses to multibillion-dollar Fortune 500 companies. His passion for problem solving, developing creative ideas and deploying meaningful communications, along with his vision for growth in the Quad Cities will make him a great member of the team. “I joined the team for the specific reason that I think there’s a great opportunity for the Quad Cities. I believe that with the Chamber leading the way, there will be great successes that will truly make the Quad Cities a great, premier destination for people to live, work and grow.”
Irby will work to execute the Chamber’s long-term strategy and annual work plan. He’ll lead major initiatives and help guide the internal direction of the Chamber. He said that with the leadership team fully staffed, the Chamber will be able to accomplish its mission at the highest level. “We now have the leadership in place to ensure that all of our team members are fully supported and have the necessary resources to succeed. I think the QC region and our members will see that success come to fruition with a fully staffed team.”
In his spare time, Irby enjoys eating and cooking great food, watching and playing sports, and volunteering in the local community.
Collier joins the Chamber following 20 years of work in finance. Her expertise in finance and accounting, combined with her desire to be part of an organization that makes an impact on our community makes her a valued member team.
As VP, Finance & Administration, Collier will manage the Chamber’s financial assets and be responsible for overall policy and management of all finance and accounting functions. With the addition of Collier, the finance team now boasts greater capabilities. “We can now be very strategic about how we use our resources to have the largest impact for our communities, our business partners, and all of our members and stakeholder groups.”
Collier thinks that the re-tooled leadership team will play a major role in delivering value to Chamber members and stakeholders. “They should be excited to see what’s coming down the pipeline. Being fully staffed is going to provide such additional depth of knowledge and power behind what our organization can do for our communities. I think they’re going to see the impact in their businesses and throughout the region.”
A Texas native, Collier understandably loves spending time on the deck during the spring and summer months. Additionally, she plays clarinet, not quite as well as she did in college, but still with gusto!
Porter joins the Chamber after working as a Positive Behavior Support Liaison, Attendance Coach and Lead Education Specialist in Iowa schools, creating job opportunities, innovating job mentorship programs, job shadowing, internship and apprenticeship for high school students. He possesses a growth mindset and is passionate about building, developing and maintaining relationships to foster and increase talent and diversity in the Quad Cities.
In his work as VP, Talent & Inclusion, Porter will be tasked with developing the Chamber’s talent development work plan and also the strategy and work plans for development and growth of talent within the region. He’ll also work towards making the region more inclusive through allocating resources to underrepresented businesses and individuals. "I am excited to join the leadership team and be a part of the impact that we will have with new ideas and a winning attitude. I am confident in our capabilities to build and maintain talent to meet the needs of our community members, businesses and partnerships. I am looking forward to building new relationships and expanding on current relationships with partners in the Quad Cities region," Porter said.
Porter is a Quad Cities resident of 35 years. He enjoys golf and traveling in his spare time. His childhood idol growing up was the late, great Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears.