Henderson chamber says goodbye to president as it enters new era

By Conor Shine

Friday, Aug. 5, 2011 | 10:34 p.m.

The local and national economies are still in turmoil, but the tone was decidedly optimistic Friday as Henderson business leaders gathered to celebrate outgoing Henderson Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Alice Martz.

“As of this moment, the stock market is up,” Cox Communications Vice President Steve Schorr said, eliciting laughs and applause from the luncheon crowd.

Schorr emceed the annual State of the Chamber address, which drew hundreds to the M Resort in Henderson.

For much of the event, Alice Martz was the center of attention, drawing praise from the speakers and being mobbed by friends and colleagues seeking a hug. Martz is leaving the chamber after nearly 25 years, including 14 as president.

During her tenure, Martz helped grow the business community as Henderson’s population boomed from 38,600 in 1986 — the year she began working at the chamber — to more than 275,000 people.

“Wow,” Martz said when she heard the number. “We were so busy and so involved in helping Henderson grow, we didn’t really have time [to think about it].”

Martz has had a lasting impact on the chamber, helping launch some of its most successful programs, including the Leadership Henderson and the Business Resource Center, which provides support and training for small business owners.

“Alice has a passion for the community, a passion to serve. She used business and the platform of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce to make the city a better place,” said D.J. Allen, founder of Henderson-based Imagine Communications. “Alice Martz is the heart of Henderson.”

Martz said although she’s leaving the chamber, she’s looking forward to getting more involved with nonprofits. She already serves on boards for the Salvation Army and Nevada State College and is working with a group to create a historical society for Henderson.

The chamber is searching for a new president and plans to have the position filled within the next three weeks, chamber board Chairman Rick Smith said.

During his address, Smith said the chamber is entering a new era.

“We’re going to make sure our programs meet the needs of the community, and if there are needs to be addressed, that we develop programs to address them,” he said.