The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce announced the promotion of Shari Simmans-Bolouri and Maria Ciarrocchi to the offices of vice president. Simmans-Bolouri will assume the vice president, marketing and events position and Ciarrocchi will become vice president, public policy and programing.
“Maria and Shari have performed exceptionally during their tenure at the chamber,” said chamber president and CEO John Long. “Both have excelled in their positions and in leading the organization in their respective fields.”
Simmans- Bolouri joined the chamber in June of 2012 as the director of events and communications and led the team through a successful re-branding campaign, earning an Award of Excellence from the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to continue to serve our members,” said Simmans-Bolouri, who has a background in events and program management. “We have a terrific team here at the chamber and I am proud to work alongside each of my co-workers and board members as we continue to make Alexandria a great place for business."
As the government and promotion director, Ciarrocchi has been instrumental in refocusing the chamber’s advocacy arm and recently led its data conversion and new website implementation. She has a background in national political campaigns and fundraising, along with event management and sponsorships.
“I’m thrilled to take on this new role at the chamber,” said Ciarrocchi, who joined the chamber in September of 2013. “In my opinion there is no better job than working to promote and strengthen the businesses that make up the fabric of our amazing city.”