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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Northern Kentucky chamber exec named to replace Rich Hadley at Greater Spokane Inc.

Greater Spokane Incorporated has named Steve Stevens its next CEO and president. Stevens, 53, has been chief executive and president of the 1,800-member Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. The GSI board announced the appointment Tuesday. Stevens starts the new job July 1, replacing Rich Hadley, who retires on May 9 after 20 years at GSI. The GSI search committee used a national firm to seek out candidates. “The committee strongly feels Steve has the right mix of talent and experience in our highest priority areas,” said Linda Elkin, the committee’s co-chair. He will head the Spokane chamber that has roughly 1,200 members and a staff of 30. Stevens has three decades of experience in small business management, international trade, state chamber advocacy and chamber leadership. He worked at the Northern Kentucky Chamber for 20 years, serving as president for eight years. In January Stevens posted a Facebook message saying he decided not to run as a Republican challenger to Kentucky’s Republican incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie. In February Stevens stepped down from the Northern Kentucky chamber position. In a story by the Cincinnati Enquirer, Stevens said he had no difficulty accepting the Spokane job offer. “There was really no question. This organization, this community, this opportunity … everything was there,” Stevens said. Stevens and his wife Marilyn will relocate to Spokane to begin work at GSI. He has two sons - Stewart is at the University of Kentucky in Lexington and Logan is at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia.