Douglas Chamber President and CEO Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary

Submitted by Douglas County Chamber

Douglas County Chamber President and CEO Kali Boatright celebrates her 10th
anniversary as the business organization’s leader on Nov. 1.

The DC Chamber invites its members to congratulate Boatright on her 10 years at the annual Member Appreciation Cookout on October 31st from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Chamber.

Boatright joined the Chamber in 2004 after working for 15 years at Golden Key International Honor Society where she served multiple roles starting from a Regional Director and working her way to the top as the Chief Operating Officer.

“When we interviewed Kali, I knew from the second I shook her hand, that she was the person for the job,’ ” said Daneda Lipsey, who served on the board for the Douglas County Chamber at the time Boatright was hired. “She had never worked at a Chamber before, but her personality and passion for her current job led me to believe she could take the DC Chamber to a whole new level, and oh has she.”

Boatright’s accomplishments since joining the DC Chamber in 2004 include partnering with West Georgia Technical College and DCSS to open the College and Career Institute, growing the membership base to 700 members as well as the annual Chamber events. She led the way to establish the Chamber Foundation which houses leadership development programs such as Leadership Douglas, Youth Leadership Douglas and Young Professionals Connection.

Boatright has also spearheaded programs through the Chamber including the Buy Local Initiative, Chamber Connections Leads Generation Group, free monthly professional development opportunities, and the Small Business of Excellence recognition program to name a few.

“I have been involved with the Chamber for almost the same amount of time that Kali has and I can honestly say that the Chamber is a better organization because of her leadership. On behalf of present and past Chamber Board Members, I say that the success of the Douglas County Chamber is because of her, “ stated current Chamber Chairman of the Board, Matt Barrington.

Throughout her time at the DC Chamber, Boatright has served multiple leadership roles including Chair of the College & Career Institute, Chair of Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, Chair of West Georgia Technical College Foundation, Chair of WellStar Regional Health Board, founding Board Member of Brighten Academy Charter School and The CarePlace, and an active member of the Georgia Chamber, Atlanta Regional Commission, Regional Business Coalition amongst others.

Board of Commissioners Chairman Tom Worthan stated, “I am pleased to congratulate Kali on 10 great years of leading our Chamber. We both started our careers in Douglas County at the same time and I’m proud of her many accomplishments and to work with her in bettering our community.”

Boatright has also been recognized on a national, state, and local level for her accomplishments, including being named one of Georgia Trend’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2006, a graduate of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Leadership Institute in
2007, receiving her IOM designation from the U.S. Chamber’s Institute of Organizational Management in 2009, a recipient of the Junior League of Douglas County’s 20th Anniversary award in 2009, and the City of Douglasville’s CVB Spirit Award in 2010.

“Douglasville and Douglas County are fortunate that her as a part of this community, and that Kali has chosen a career path which facilitates a continuous and important involvement in the growth and development of our community. She has been a
wonderful ambassador of promoting Douglasville and Douglas County, “commented Mayor Harvey Persons in a letter and award honoring her as an Outstanding Community Citizen.