The Greater Hall County Chamber of Commerce announces Tim J. Evans, current Senior Vice President of Economic Development, as the next President and Chief Executive Officer. The announcement was made by Brett Fowler of Turner Wood & Smith Insurance, Immediate Past Chairman of the Board and Chair of the Chamber’s Search Committee, and Glennis Barnes of Georgia Power Company, current Chairman of the Greater Hall Chamber. Evans will be replacing Kathryn L. “Kit” Dunlap, who announced her retirement earlier this year after 26 years leading the Chamber.

“Tim Evans has been an integral part of the economic development success of Gainesville-Hall County for many years,” said Fowler. “Each time the committee reviewed candidates, we came back to Tim as someone who has the leadership skills and understanding of the role the Greater Hall Chamber plays in marketing Gainesville-Hall County as a great place for businesses to locate and expand as well as families to thrive.”

Evans joined the Chamber’s economic development team in 2005. During his time with the organization, he has played a role in increasing capital investment from new and expanding businesses from $50 million in 2005 to $2.4 billion from 2015 to 2023. A significant responsibility in heading the Chamber’s economic development division is working with the Gainesville and Hall County Development Authority, and Evans serves as treasurer of the organization.

As a Certified Economic Developer by the International Economic Development Council, Evans began his economic development career with the Georgia Department of Economic Development in 1994 as an Associate Project Manager – Business Recruitment and Retention Division. Other positions he held while at the state’s lead marketing agency included Project Manager, Senior Project Manager, Assistant Deputy Commissioner -International, and Director of Projects / Marketing.

“The Greater Hall Chamber has a very solid foundation for Tim to build upon in the years to come,” Barnes said. “He has proven himself as someone who is a servant leader and listens to the needs of the business community. Tim has built successful teams internally and externally at the Chamber and will serve our community and region well.”

Evans is a native of Jefferson, Georgia and earned a BA in Political Studies and Economics from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. He studied Economic Analysis at The Washington Center, Washington, D.C., and earned an MBA from the University of Georgia Terry College of Business. Other positions and recognitions Evans has received include past Chair of the Georgia Economic Developers Association and recipient of the organization’s distinguished Rip Wiley Award. He also serves as Chairman, City of Gainesville, TAD Advisory Committee; Board of Directors and Finance Committee, United Way of Hall County; Board of Directors, Northeast Georgia Health Partners; Finance Committee and Audit Committee, Northeast Georgia Health System. He is a 2009 graduate of Leadership Hall and 2016 graduate of Leadership Georgia.  Evans has a son, Banks, who is a 7th grader at Da Vinci Academy, part of the Hall County School System.

The executive search process for the Greater Hall Chamber was divided into three segments. The first included listening to community and business leaders about the successes and challenges that face the Chamber in the years to come. The second phase was designed to cast the net for candidates. And finally, the third covered an extensive process of evaluating the candidates and their skills and resources.

Along with Fowler and Barnes, other members of the Search Committee included William Bagwell, Homestead Investments; Carol Burrell, Northeast Georgia Health System; Brian Daniel, Carroll Daniel Construction; Randall Frost, Stewart, Melvin & Frost; Tim McDonald, Lanier Technical College; Tate O’Rouke, Jackson EMC; Brian Rochester, Rochester DCCM; Phil Sutton, Kubota Manufacturing of America Corporation; and Philip Wilheit, Sr., Wilheit Packaging.

During her 26-year span as president and CEO, Kit Dunlap has spearheaded several multi-million-dollar private business initiatives such as HALLmark, an initiative that has funded successful economic development, education and community programs, VISION 2030 and the Chamber building renovation in Downtown Gainesville. Kit is at the top of the industry among fellow Chamber executives with a strong economic development background, serving on the Board of the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism (now the Georgia Department of Economic Development) for 10 years and as chairman for two years. She is a founding member of the Gainesville-Hall County Economic Development Council and served as the council’s first chairman in 1992.  Her leadership has guided the Chamber to solid ground with a membership base of 3,500 individuals and a professional staff of 13 people.