After 15 years, Beattie says 'So long' to chamber

“Beattie” means business, but after lifetime of wheeling and dealing — a large portion of it in the public sector — the president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber is calling it quits. After 15 years at the helm of Utah’s largest and longest-standing business organization, Lane Beattie has announced his retirement. 

    “When I took the job at the chamber, I planned to only stay on for two years. But two years turned into five, five turned into 10 and I just couldn’t pull myself away from all of the exciting progress we were making here at the chamber,” said Beattie, who also heads the Downtown Alliance, an organization dedicated to building a dynamic and diverse Salt Lake City core community. The organization is a strategic partner of the chamber and shares office space and resources with it. 

“I cannot express how grateful I am to have been able to lead this great organization for the last 15 years.” said Beattie. “None of the successes of the Salt Lake Chamber and the Downtown Alliance would have been possible without the dedication and participation of this state’s business community. By working together, we have accomplished many great things, and I have no doubt that with the continued leadership of our board, the engagement of our business leaders and the commitment from this great staff that those successes will continue for many years to come.”

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Beattie became president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber in 2003. Since that time, he has helped transform the 130-year-old statewide institution into an organization that stands for all Utah businesses. During his tenure as president of the Downtown Alliance, Beattie created the “Downtown Rising” vision and helped to advance projects including City Creek Center, 222 South Main, Salt Lake City’s Public Safety Building and Eccles Theater along with regional light rail and commuter rail lines to support downtown’s growth.

“Lane Beattie dedicated his time, wisdom and passion to this great organization and has helped shape what it is today. Under Lane’s direction, the Salt Lake Chamber has stepped up and been the advocate for Utah’s business community even when it meant making tough decisions,” said Wilford Clyde, chairman of the Salt Lake Chamber. “While it will be difficult to fill his shoes, I have complete confidence the search committee will find someone with the dedication and determination to not only continue the great work of this organization, but also to elevate it to new heights.”

“As president of the Downtown Alliance, Lane has been our city center’s biggest cheerleader,” said Molly Mazzolini, Downtown Alliance board chair. “He understands the urban center’s role in building a strong regional economy and has been a tireless advocate for creating a dynamic and diverse downtown community.”

The search has begun for Beattie’s replacement. A search committee made up of past and current chairs as well as members of the chamber’s executive board, has been formed. Until a replacement has been found, Beattie will continue to run the day-to-day operations of the chamber.

Commenting on his pending retirement, Beattie said, “I have to look at retirement through my grandchildren’s eyes and understand for them, it means more time with grandpa.”{/mprestriction}