Patrick Chapin resigns from the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce

Winter Park Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Patrick Chapin announced his resignation from the Chamber earlier today, May 18, after accepting the role of CEO for Business High Point Inc. in North Carolina.

His resignation will be effective June 15. Erika Spence, senior director of marketing and communications for the Chamber, said the Chamber will host a board meeting to discuss hiring an interim CEO next week.

"On paper it was a very easy decision, it was the right decision for me professionally – it's a great opportunity in a new organization," Chapin said after the announcement, which came in a release Wednesday afternoon. "On the emotional side it was very difficult. I've really grown close to so many people in Winter Park."

Leaving behind the Chamber will be tough, he said.

"I haven't allowed myself to realize how much I'm going to miss people, especially my staff,” he said. “I will never work with a better team than I have at the Chamber.... The chamber is in such a great position not necessarily because of me, but because of the team that I've been able to assemble. It won't skip a beat."

Chapin has served the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce since January 2010, with a focus on partnership, innovation and community. Some of his major accomplishments include Feed the Need Winter Park, the community-wide initiative to raise $300,000 in three years to support Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, establishing the Leadership Winter Park Legacy Fund, advocating for SunRail in Winter Park and, recently, donating a kidney to a Chamber member.

Chapin's future employer, Business High Point Inc. was formed in August 2015 when the High Point Chamber of Commerce merged with High Point Partners, a non-profit group of community leaders with a goal for growing the city.

"It's going to be not only focused on business development, but also civic, arts, community and revitalization," Chapin said. "It's really a good fit for me."

Chapin said his proudest moment with the Winter Park Chamber was his work with Feed the Need Winter Park.

"It represents what's so great about Winter Park," Chapin said. "A lot of people internally hear that we disagree on things, but there's so many things that we all believe in and appreciate and love about Winter Park. I think Feed the Need was one of those examples that really illustrated what caring people can do to make a difference."

Winter Park is in a great place moving forward, he said.

"It's a tough time to leave, because there's so many exciting things happening," he said. "There's wonderful leadership in the Commission and the Mayor. The library is going to be exciting. It's going to be fun. I'm definitely going to keep tabs on things. Central Florida will always be my home."