Regional Chamber Snags Experienced Marketing Resource

A new relationship born between two creative market leaders and innovators promises to serve companies who wish to grow their success in the regional and global marketplace. The Chamber of Southwest Florida announced to its members an agreement that brings the experience and talent of Keith Trowbridge, one of the region's most experienced and successful marketing minds, into a new working relationship with The Chamber. The overall effort is designed to bring the high-quality programs, products and services developed by The Chamber to a broader cross section of companies that deliver services or draw their labor from the Southwest Florida market.

Trowbridge, who is credited as one of the industry leaders in the development of the vacation time-share concept, has enthusiastically signed on for new responsibilities with the mission of deploying the products and services of the regional business association using new strategies and tactics. Trowbridge has built sales organizations across the United States and Caribbean that have generated millions of dollars in sales for the time-share industry.

Trowbridge, a three-decade resident of Southwest Florida, holds several educational degrees including a PhD from the University of Michigan in Management and Finance, an M.B.A. from Bowling Green State University, and B.Sc. graduate from the Bowling Green State University Business School of Administration. He also served as graduate assistant to the College of Business Research as an analyst and campus planner. He established the first office of Institutional Research at the University.

In addition to operating in various marketing roles in the region, Trowbridge has been a resort developer, industry consultant and organization builder. Recently, he served as the executive director of the Sanibel Chamber of Commerce where he expanded the active membership in the organization nearly 40 percent in 18 months. He has been active in a variety of community and professional organizations. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce and is currently a Trustee Member of the Chamber of Southwest Florida. Trowbridge will be building a new working team of associates and scouting key locations for meeting activity across the region over the next several weeks.

Trowbridge explained his enthusiasm for the new relationship today by saying, "Selling and organizing sales efforts is the work I enjoy most. I enjoy being with people and the dynamics of growing organizations. After living and working in this area for 30 years, I see the regional marketplace becoming more central to the creation of jobs, the development of our workforce, the investment in our capital infrastructure and our visitor

destination customers. As a businessperson, I want to help others explore the regional and global relationships that will drive the success of our economy. Working together at the regional level in our community is an idea whose time has come."

Trowbridge went on to say, "I am proud to be associated with an organization as forward-thinking, innovative and creative as The Chamber of Southwest Florida. I am pleased that I am able to bring my knowledge to the table and help the organization reach more companies in the region who will benefit from this dynamic association."

Steve Tirey, President of The Chamber of Southwest Florida, stated, "The success of our regional focus will be enhanced as we provide new approaches to delivering our programs, products and services to companies who are working in this vibrant regional market. Our successful regional mission driven by strong governmental advocacy, community leadership development, strategic business information services and innovative member services can be a great resource for business in the region. I am pleased to have the opportunity to have Keith Trowbridge working with us in this endeavor. I know his effort will bring a great value to many companies in Southwest Florida.