LAWTON – The Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce announced Sunday that Brenda Spencer-Ragland submitted a letter of resignation as the organization’s president and CEO.
The Board of Directors will conduct an executive search process to secure a replacement for the president and CEO position. “Brenda has made significant contributions to the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce over the course of 18 months and has been instrumental in furthering our mission — providing value-added services to our membership
and the Lawton-Fort Sill community that contribute to economic growth and quality of life”, said Board Chair Jennifer Ellis. “On behalf of the board and staff, I thank Brenda for her leadership and wish her well in her future endeavors.”
“It has been my absolute honor to serve this community as the president and CEO of the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce for the past 18 months,” Ms. Spencer-Ragland said in a statement. “My resignation is a personal decision that was made based on the well-being of my family. As many know, my husband has faced health challenges, and I have custody of my brother who requires my support and attention. “I came to the Chamber of Commerce after I retired from Family and MWR, where I enjoyed an amazing 32-year career with the Department of the Army. I have been blessed to work with amazing individuals - those that are dedicated to the betterment of the community.
I had met with the Chair for the Chamber, both past and present, we laid out specific goals and objectives and I am proud that I was able to lead the Chamber to exceeded all, to include achieving five-star accreditation, and working to improve the value of Chamber membership. The staff of the Chamber of Commerce is professional - totally dedicated to providing excellence to the membership base. “I have committed to supporting the board with remaining a member of this great team, while the board works to select a replacement. We have an amazing community, and you can rest assured as I transition to the next career opportunity, I will be promoting and supporting our community and our state.”
Ms. Spencer-Ragland joined the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce as president and CEO in October 2018. She led the organization to five-star accreditation for the first time in the Chamber’s history, the reintroduction of the Apartment Managers Coalition, a monthly professional development series and made strategic connections to increase the membership of the Chamber of Commerce and enhance the Lawton-Fort Sill Community, to include facilitating Intuit, Insperity, and Cohen Veterans Network’s presence in the community.
Prior to assuming this position, Ms. Spencer-Ragland served as the Director of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation Programs for Fort Sill. She also served as the Director of Army Housing for Fort Sill, where she provided management and leadership of the installation Housing Division. She was the only Family and MWR Director to be dual-hatted as the Housing Director for six years (2001- 2007).
Ms. Spencer-Ragland also served as the interim director for Army G9, where she led the $2 billion annual program, and corrective actions for Army Child and Youth Services, and Family and MWR, including non-appropriated fund, contracting. She was selected out of her peers across the Army to be the first installation MWR director to serve as the Interim G9, a senior executive position for the Department of the Army.