After a nationwide search, the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce selected a new president and CEO Wednesday.

Bryan K. Stephens, a retired U.S. Army colonel, starts in the role on Nov. 4, according to a Chamber news release. He will oversee a staff of 32 and will also serve on the boards of the Small Business Development Center of Hampton Roads, ChamberSolutions, the Hampton Roads Sports Commission, and the Hampton Roads Chamber Foundation.

"We had many strong candidates from throughout the country.  Bryan Stephens was the ideal choice.  He brings more than 35 years of diverse business, manufacturing and operational, domestic and international experience to the Chamber,” Chamber board chairwoman Deborah Stearns said in a statement. “With his exceptional background and experience he is uniquely positioned to represent every stakeholder in Hampton Roads; he is an experienced business executive, a distinguished veteran, and a proven leader with political acumen.” 

Stephens served 28 years in the military, including as chief of operations at the Joint Warfighting Center USJFCOM in Suffolk. He has led 9,000 military and civilian personnel and managed budgets of more than $250 million.

After his Army career, he provided program management and consulting services to joint military and interagency operations when he was senior account manager at SAIC in Suffolk.

Stephens returns to Hampton Roads after most recently serving as president and CEO of Kalmar RT Center LLC in San Antonio, Texas. Stephens led manufacturing, sales, distribution, servicing and maintenance of Kalmar’s RT rough terrain material-handling equipment worldwide.

He also led global operations for Allison Transmission, Inc. in Indianapolis as vice president and executive director of military programs where he handled U.S. military and foreign allies sales with a focus on the Middle East, Southwest Asia and Europe. 

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