FORT MYERS (September 23, 2010) - Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Members are changing the guard with the announcement of new leadership for the volunteer working and policy making board. Richard Lewis, HSA Engineers and Scientists has assumed the role of Chairman for the Board. He follows Fred Edman, Wright Construction Group as Chairman. Lewis will lead the Board of Directors and the activities of the regional Chamber of Commerce as it implements the Program of Action, a business plan for the organization driven by volunteer members.

Upon beginning his tenure as Chair, Dr. Lewis said "It is our plan to move the chamber in the direction of a community-driven organization to ensure that our members' voices are heard and that our chamber programs meet the needs of our diversified business community. We encourage professionals throughout southwest Florida to become actively engaged in the issues that affect our region by joining the chamber and volunteering their expertise to the causes that they are most passionate about."

Dr. Richard Lewis is principal of the Fort Myers office and a major shareholder of HSA Engineers & Scientists, a full-service engineering firm. Dr. Lewis received his undergraduate degree in physics from Centre College and his environmental engineering degree from Vanderbilt University. He obtained both his Masters and Doctorate in environmental engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a registered Professional Engineer and is certified by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers in hazardous waste.

Leadership for The Chamber of Southwest Florida is changing as new members of the Board of Directors prepare to implement the work of The Chamber. Betsy Allen, Gaining Results Inc., and Cee Cee Marinelli, Barron Collier Companies and Robert Keonig, KRAFT Construction are new appointments to the Board of Directors. Other Board Members include: James Allgood, Allgood & Associates; David Borden, Barron Collier Partnership; Gary Bull, Johnson Engineering; Cliff Chaipel, Larson Allen CPAs LLP; Aaron Farmer, Farmer and Hinson PL; Todd Gates, GATES; Thomas Mueller, COVANTA; Robert Simpson, LeeSar Regional Service Center, Dilman Thomas, BB&T Oswald Trippe & Company, Joe Wheeler, Wheeler & Associates; Stephen Tirey, The Chamber of Southwest Florida.

The Chamber of Southwest Florida is a regional business membership organization with members in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades Counties. Chamber members are regional employers and many provide products and services across the region.