Q & A with Chamber President and CEO, Peter Tokar III

​​​​​​As Peter Tokar III, MBA, MEDP settles into his new role as the President & CEO of the Quad Cities Chamber, we asked him a few questions about the community he just stepped into, and what his thoughts are about our area and its status as a "best kept secret." Tokar comes to the Quad Cities most recently from McKinney, Texas where he was President & CEO of the McKinney Economic Development Corporation. He has 20 years of experience serving economic development organizations, as well as working closely with chambers, state and local economic development practitioners, site selectors and elected officials.

You're invited to meet Peter at a morning Meet & Greet on from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 23 in the Chamber lobby. 

Q: You’ve lived and worked in many different regions of the country, what specifically drew you to the Quad Cities both professionally and personally (especially with a young family)?

A: Personally, family is very important to me. My wife Melissa and I have always been proactive about providing the best environment for raising kids. When considering the Quad Cities, this was a major selling point. The amount of available outdoor activities, as well as plenty of entertainment, arts and sports is impressive in the Quad Cities. We have four children under the age of 9 and keeping them engaged and active is important. Also, we homeschool our kiddos, so our ability to do that is favorable here.

In addition to all of the above, we fell in love with the character of the area. The renewal of the downtown historic districts, historic buildings and riverfronts all added to the charm of the region for us. We look forward to exploring all the different cities and seeing the unique experiences they have to offer.

Professionally, I see nothing but opportunity for this region. The groundwork has been well established by the community leaders, and the region is primed to take that next leap forward. Strong industries, major employers, education and training facilities, and cities in the region with strong leadership and a vision for growth and development all point to one thing, the Quad Cities has the recipe for success. I feel fortunate that I was chosen to help contribute to the next chapter of this success story.      

Q: You have reached the 20-year mark of career experience and have made a significant impact on economic development in the communities you’ve served. What are the top things you’d like to accomplish here in the Quad Cities?

A: The vast majority of the people I have met thus far in the Quad Cities all share one common ideal. They tell me that the Quad Cities has been the “best kept secret”  for decades from a quality of life and business opportunity perspective, to which I agree. I warn them, I am about to blow the lid off that secret!  I think they are right, the main issue holding the Quad Cities back is that we are a relatively unknown location. I hope to renew a brand and marketing campaign that brings the Quad Cities into a more national spotlight and highlights the development, business opportunities and amazing lifestyle we have to offer. 

Q: What makes the Quad Cities feel like the “right place at the right time?”

A: In my first few weeks, I spent the majority of my time educating myself and seeking to understand the development and growth visions for each of our unique cities and representative counties. What is impressive and what each community shares, is a developing strategy and vision for smart, dynamic growth and development that will help redefine their city and strengthen the region. This is somewhat rare. While each city's vision is unique, it is not typical to find all the cities wanting the same relative goal. I believe this is why the Quad Cities is the right place and right time. This unity of direction allows the Chamber's support efforts to be more strategic and direct to bring better opportunities to the region. While success will look different in each city, we are all “marching to the beat of the same drum.” I also feel that the duality of the region - having the dual state representation - is a forgotten strength. 

Q: What are your first impressions of the Quad Cities?

A: Both my wife and I had the same general thought when we first visited the Quad Cities which was, “This place has character!”  As we drove around the different communities and read more about the rich history of the region, we kept noticing little unique things here and there that were both surprising and fascinating. The adaptive reuse of historic buildings into modern urban renewal is outstanding. The availability of arts and entertainment greatly surpasses some other major metropolitan cities where we have lived. We are pleasantly surprised time and again as we continue to learn more about the region.

Q: What do you want the Quad Cities to know about you?

A: I consider myself an innovator. My vision for both the Quad Cities Chamber and the Quad Cities region will look to the future for success and not focus on the successes of the past. I want the growth and development of our region to be responsible and strategic based on what best benefits the community while protecting the identity and character of our communities. I will always do what I believe is the right thing and am not afraid to make hard choices. I believe that there can be a balance of development and growth without sacrificing quality of life or community.

More than anything, I want to see the people and businesses of the Quad Cities thrive and succeed.