Harvey Schmitt, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
[Guest speaker at the Research Triangle Meeting January 27, 2010]
Harvey Schmitt began his 38 year chamber management career in Dubuque, Iowa. He has been president of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce since February 1, 1994. He has served as President of the Chambers in Dubuque, Iowa, Greenville South Carolina, and Tampa Florida and General Manager of the Jacksonville Florida Chamber.
He has served on numerous state and regional professional association boards including president of South Carolina Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, Chairman of the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce Executive’s (ACCE) and Chairman of the ACCE Trustees. He currently serves on the US Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100 and the Board of ACCE having served as 2009 Annual Conference Chairman held in Raleigh July 28-August 1, 2009.
Mr. Schmitt played a leadership role in coalescing support for the RBC Center, recruiting the NHL Carolina Hurricanes and launching the Sports Council and the Regional Transportation Alliance. He serves on the Boards of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, Triangle Tomorrow, Triangle Community Coalition, the Regional Transportation Alliance and the North Carolina Chamber. He is a Trustee for the Wake Education Partnership, and the 200 Club of Wake County, the Board of Governors for Cardinal Club, the Brier Creek Country Club, a board of trustee member of Carolina Hurricanes Kids N’ Community Foundation, and serves on the Board of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance. He received the 2002 Business Leader of the Year Award from Business Leader Magazine. In 2008 he was awarded the Supporter of Public Education award from the Wake Education Partnership. And in 2009 he received the John B. Ross Leadership Award from the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau.
He and his wife Pam will celebrate 40 years of marriage in May and have two daughters and a grandson.