CEO of Murrieta Chamber Takes Job Out of State

The Murrieta Chamber of Commerce said goodbye to its longtime leader last week.

About 100 friends, coworkers and members of the business community turned out Dec. 19 to wish Rex Oliver farewell. Oliver served as president and CEO of the for more than 10 years. Now he has left for a new job as president and CEO of Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce in Bainbridge Island, Washington.

"I thought it was time to move on to something else," Oliver said by phone Wednesday.

Oliver lived in the Temecula Valley for 16 years. Prior to taking the position at the Murrieta Chamber, he served as the inventory control manager at Rancho Ford in Temecula.

He said he enjoyed the opportunity to get to know so many in the community.

"I appreciate the working relationships I had with them over the last 10 years."

While with the Murrieta Chamber, he served as president of the Southern California Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (SCACCE) and sat on the board of the Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.).

He also encouraged a , which included relocating the Chamber offices to the campus of Murrieta Mesa High School in 2010.

Within the last year, he also started organizing which entailed getting all the area chambers and their members under one roof for a networking event.

Oliver will assume his new position Jan. 3.

The Murrieta Chamber of Commerce could not be reached Wednesday for comment on Oliver's departure, as their offices were closed for the holidays. On their website, they list a job opening for CEO/Executive Director, with a minimum salary of $55,000.

In selecting Oliver, Bainbridge Island Chamber conducted a national candidate search with the help of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.) and Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives (WCCE).

“We are very excited to have Rex aboard," said Jeff Waite, chairman of the Board of the Bainbridge Island Chamber, in a news release. "He brings a wealth of chamber experience and talents to our Island and region..."