Ardapple named interim chamber president

Mary Ardapple, a Peoria entrepreneur and former chairman of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors, will be that group's interim president, the chamber announced Monday.

Ardapple, owner of Apple's Bakery and a member of the Peoria County Board, will be interim president until a permanent replacement for Roberta Parks is chosen from a nationwide search, the chamber said in a news release.

Parks recently left the Chamber after 25 years to accept the position of vice president of the UnityPoint Health-Methodist Foundation.

Ardapple is excited about the opportunity to champion the voice of business, the chamber news release said.

"I believe in the mission of the Chamber and all that it has to offer our community's businesses. My goal is to build the organization for future leadership in a manner which exemplifies keen understanding of today's business needs with an eye on the future," Ardapple said.

Chamber Board Chairman Brent Eichelberger says Ardapple fit the qualifications the board was looking for in an interim leader. "We wanted someone with strong Leadership skills, someone with a strong grasp of sales and marketing and someone who could oversee government affairs issues. Mary is the right person to keep leading the Peoria Chamber moving forward in the right direction," he said.

Cal MacKay, president of the Greater Peoria Business Alliance, said he's confident Ardapple will be a great asset to the team. "We have very dedicated and hard working staff here at the chamber. They all know and respect Mary, which will make this a smooth transition. The staff is excited and looking forward to the energy she will bring with her. There are great things ahead for the Peoria Chamber."

Ardapple has been a member of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce since 1984 and chaired the board of directors in 2006. In 2009 she received the Athena Award, the top award given a woman in business to honor her achievements in her job and in the community.