(Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) The new chairman of the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce is turning his long-time love affair with the north end of the county into opportunity for local businesses. John Carr was recently installed as board chairman of the non-for-profit organization – which spans 10 Palm Beach County municipalities from Tequesta to Palm Beach Gardens to Riviera Beach, and serves more than 1,000 business members.
In this role, Carr serves as the executive officer of the Chamber and presides at all business meetings of the board and executive committees, along with any meetings of the membership. His experience at the Chamber includes serving as small business advisory council chairman, ambassador chairman, member of the government affairs committee, secretary, treasurer, and part of the Chamber’s strategic plan steering committee.
According to Carr, one of his primary focus areas during his Chamber tenure will be to work collaboratively with leaders from Palm Beach North and Palm Beach County to encourage the mission of the Chamber as the unified voice of business in Palm Beach North. He has already formed a new council of past Chamber chairmen to offer their experienced perspective to current leadership. This council will also engage in other activities with leadership to help provide the resources needed to ensure the community delivers on the promise of being Florida’s “Prosperity Coast.”
“I’ve had the honor of serving alongside John over a number of years on the Chamber’s executive committee,” said former Palm Beach North Chamber Chairman Rachel Docekal. “John’s passion for the Palm Beach North Chamber is unparalleled and I look forward to a tremendous year ahead under his chairmanship.”
In his ‘tween years, Carr spent time at his father’s home in Lake Park and fell in love with the area. Recognizing the north end of the county’s potential for growth even then, Carr recalls a time before The Gardens Mall became the area’s business anchor.
“It was much quieter then,” he said of the 1980s, when he worked at his father’s gas station just off 45th Street. “I have always loved the north end of Palm Beach County and the vast opportunities for growth here. We are seeing it now as more and more businesses and residents call our area home. It’s critical that our Chamber takes the lead in smart growth for this region, while we preserve the beauty that attracted so many of us to golf, fish, boat and travel here.”
An avid golfer, John and his wife Michelle reside in Jupiter where he enjoys spending time with his family. “My own grandparents had a profound impact on me,” said Carr. “My grandfather taught me by example to have respect for our country and great respect for others. At Christmas I helped my grandmother, Nana, deliver home-baked cheesecakes to friends without any family. I constantly have them both in the back of my mind as I try to do the next right thing.”
Widely recognized by fellow Chamber members for his enthusiasm, compassion and open communication, Carr serves as a managing director of Venture Construction Group (VCG) of Florida, a position that takes him to major projects located throughout the state. Recently, he spent time in Florida’s Panhandle, where Hurricane Irma left a path of destruction, to assist with the management of recovery projects. VCG is a leader in residential and commercial construction, roofing, renovations, restoration, storm damage repairs, and 24/7 emergency services.
Carr also serves as director of the JRC Charitable Foundation, where he raises funds to support nonprofits who are helping to enrich our local communities. For the past nine years, his annual golf tournaments have raised more than $15,000 annually to help organizations such as Tequesta’s United for Families. He also serves as a director at large for 211 of the Palm Beaches.
Founded in 2007 as a result of a merger from two previous chambers, the Jupiter Tequesta Juno Beach Chamber of Commerce (founded in 1948) and the North Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce (founded in 1947), the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce strives to be a dynamic organization that serves as a vital business and community resource. The Chamber focuses on the development and retention of businesses by taking an active role in issues that affect the profitability of local companies, protecting and improving the quality of life for residents and, above all, providing superior services and resources to our members. For more information on membership in the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit www.pbnchamber.com or call 561.746.7111.