Bartlett Area Chamber President John Threadgill to Retire After 20 Years

John Threadgill will retire as president of the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce effective Jan. 31, 2027, after 20 years in the role, the chamber announced October 20. The organization said Threadgill has recruited dozens of businesses and industries to Northeast Shelby County. Yahoo published the announcement on October 21.

Threadgill's Two Decades Leading the Bartlett Chamber

Threadgill has presided over the chamber for the past 20 years, a tenure the organization credits with bringing new jobs and fostering economic growth in Northeast Shelby County. Chamber officials said his leadership strengthened relationships among local businesses, community leaders and organizations.

"John has devoted 20 years to making Bartlett and the Greater Memphis community a better place to live, work, and do business," Michael Patrick, chairman of the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors, said in a news release. "The impact of his leadership extends far beyond the Chamber itself."

According to a release, Threadgill played a vital role in forming the Greater Memphis Medical Device Council and the Shelby County Chamber Alliance, and worked closely with EDGE. Before joining the Bartlett chamber, he spent 16 years as chief administrative officer with the Memphis Regional Chamber, now the Greater Memphis Chamber. In the 1980s he was an international specialist with the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development, recruiting foreign investment from Asia and Canada.

"Serving the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce for the past 20 years has been an incredible honor," Threadgill said in a release. "I am proud of what we have accomplished together and look forward to supporting the Chamber and its continued success during this transition."

Bartlett Chamber's Scale and Economic Development Work

According to akta.pro company records, the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce operates the Vision Bartlett long-term economic development initiative, which targets four growth industries: Life Science, Agribusiness, Emerging Technologies, and Retail & Hospitality. The chamber is home to the Greater Memphis Medical Device Council, and Bartlett is recognized for having one of the highest concentrations of medical device manufacturers in Tennessee, with ten companies employing nearly 1,000 people. The same records show the chamber has more than 600 members and serves a market population of 250,000, with over $396.6 million in capital investment in the Bartlett area over the past four years.

Leadership Changes at Other Regional Organizations

The Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable named William R. Van Buren as board chair and Shannon O. Pierce as vice chair, succeeding its inaugural co-chairs, Virginia Business reported on October 21. Their two-year terms run through December 31, 2028, with the transition set for the November 18 board meeting. Heathrow Airport Holdings said on October 19 that its expansion plans will create at least 50,000 jobs, including engineering, logistics and construction roles, and 5,000 apprenticeships and traineeships, EIN Presswire reported.

Succession Search and Transition Support

Threadgill has agreed to assist the board and chamber staff with the recruitment and onboarding of his successor and plans to remain available in an advisory capacity after his retirement. The Bartlett Chamber is expected to provide additional information regarding the search for his replacement in the coming weeks. "The Board is committed to finding the right person to lead the Chamber into its next chapter," Patrick said in a release.