Jean Cecil Hudak named Columbia Chamber President and CEO

Jean Cecil Hudak has been named President and CEO of the Columbia Chamber, beginning her service late September. She succeeds Carl Blackstone, who served in the role since 2014.

Hudak comes to the Chamber after more than eight years at strategic communications firm NP Strategy, most recently as Chief Operating Officer. Prior to that, she was CEO of Beam and Hinge, a website development firm. She also worked for the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce as Director of Governmental Affairs and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce as Multimedia Manager.

She began her career as a legislative correspondent for U.S. Senator Jim DeMint, before moving to the legislative affairs offices of Vice President Dick Cheney and President George W. Bush.

For the past nine years, Hudak had been a member of the Columbia Chamber Board of Directors. She was a member of the Board’s Executive Committee and served as the Board Chair in 2021-2022 and Public Policy Committee Chair from 2017 to 2019.

Hudak is a graduate of the Riley Institute Diversity Leaders Initiative and Leadership South Carolina. She currently serves as a board member for Girl Scouts of South Carolina Mountains to Midlands.

“The Chamber is excited to welcome Jean Cecil into this new role,” said Terrance Ford, Columbia Chamber Board of Directors Chair. “She brings a wealth of leadership experience and a deep understanding of our business community, having served on the Chamber Board and in state and federal government. Her knowledge, relationships, and commitment to Columbia make her exceptionally well-positioned to lead the Chamber into its next chapter.”

“I am honored to be chosen for this vital position,” said Hudak. “The Chamber has been a big part of my life for more than a decade, and I look forward to serving our Partners and our region’s business community.”

A Spartanburg native, Hudak is a graduate of Wofford College. She and her husband, Todd, live in Columbia.

About the Columbia Chamber

The Columbia Chamber is a private, non-profit, Partner-driven organization comprised of 1,200 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals in Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry and Richland counties. The Columbia Chamber serves as the voice of its Partners and the business community at large on matters of economic, educational, social, cultural and political concern, as well as supports and promotes the success of its Partners through networking, professional development, advocacy and leadership. The organization has represented the interests of the local business community since 1902.

To become a Partner or to learn more about the Columbia Chamber, as well as its events, programs and initiatives, visit www.ColumbiaChamber.com.