Mark Dobson, president and CEO of the Warsaw Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce, recently received recognition as the Indiana Chamber Executive of the Year by his statewide peer network.

The Indiana Chamber Executives Association selected Dobson as this year’s honoree based on his proven community leadership, successes in organizational development and innovation with programming.

“Mark is a great chamber president to be honored with this award,“ said Shelli Williams, president of the Indiana Chamber Executives Association. “He quickly advanced as a leader among his peers within the ICEA network.”

Dobson was nominated for this award by his professional peer Debbie Mix, executive director of the Starke County Chamber of Commerce. In the nomination, Mix wrote, “When I first started my journey as a chamber executive, Mark was very helpful in guiding me with answers to questions that I struggled with … I highly recommend Mark Dobson as the Indiana Chamber Executive’s Association Executive of the Year. He exemplifies the executive role with the understanding, dedication and dynamic personality that it takes to promote his position, his community and his region.”

Dobson was also nominated for this award by Dennis Hively, current Chair of the Warsaw Kosciusko County Chamber, and Past Chair John Warren. Dobson began his tenure with the chamber in 2009. He was the recipient of a scholarship to attend the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Organizational Management and completed the nationally‐recognized IOM designation this past year.

As referenced in Hively’s nomination letter, Dobson has done an outstanding job formulating and communicating the vision of the chamber. He has good working relationships with chamber members and maintains an open door policy. The Chamber has experienced substantial growth under Mark’s leadership. Mark was instrumental in bringing the Warsaw Community Development Corporation back into the chamber after several years of independent operation.

The Indiana Chamber Executives Association is the statewide association focusing on professional development of staff members leading local chambers of commerce in Indiana. Founded in 1915, the ICEA membership is comprised of more than 260 professional staff members representing nearly ninety local chambers of commerce around the state.