Rachel E. Pate was named interim president of the Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce, after John Bible stepped down to take a role at TFNB Your Bank for Life.
Pate has been with the Chamber since 2016, serving most recently as the Vice President for Economic Development.
"I’ve gotten to see the perspective of the organization from the entry point, but also be in the position of leadership," Pate said.
In a press release, the board said it would spend the next several months conducting a thorough search for the permanent president.
"I’ve approached this opportunity not as a placeholder or a seat warmer, but someone who is well positioned and understanding of not only the organization, but the community that we serve," Pate said of the interim position.
In the interim, she said her goal is to bring stability to the growing organization.
"I want our members and our community to feel the sense that the chamber is still moving and we are still growing and that direction hasn’t shifted dramatically," Pate said.
The focus, she said, is still on economic development projects like Esther’s Closet, the minority equity fund, and the Center for Business Excellence, which is still in early development.
Pate begins in the interim role immediately.
