Chamber VP Arbeiter takes head post at Lee's Summit chamber

After 10 years serving as the vice president of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, Tim Arbeiter is preparing to make a big move, personally and professionally. He will be moving across the state to serve as president of the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce.

Arbeiter was born in Illinois but raised in Cape Girardeau. He attended Cape Girardeau Central High School and received two degrees from Southeast Missouri State University. He briefly worked at the university before becoming the director of Old Town Cape.

From there, he moved into his current position in the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce.

Though he has spent most of his life in Southeast Missouri and has great affection for the area, Arbeiter was intrigued by what Lee’s Summit had to offer.

The Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce launched a national search to fill a position being vacated by retiring chamber president Nancy Bruns, and Arbeiter decided to apply.

“They have over 1,000 business members, and they do a large amount of what we do at the chamber, so it piqued my interest,” Arbeiter said.

In a news release from the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce, Vic Cundiff, chairman of the board, said the search team was impressed from the moment they received Arbeiter’s resume.

“The first interview left us amazed; Tim really set the bar high. His well-rounded experience and understanding of chamber, economic development, personal civic engagement, legislative issues, partnerships, events and community development made him a front-runner,” Cundiff said. “By the end of the second interview, it was his passion and caring heart that sealed the deal.”

As Arbeiter prepares to make his exit in late June, the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce is planning its next steps.

“Needless to say, we’re extremely thrilled with what [Arbeiter] has done with us over the last 10 years. He’s obviously ready to do this,” John Mehner, president of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, said. “It’s a good move for him and his family.”

The news still is relatively fresh to Arbeiter and his family, so he’s not certain when his last day will be and when precisely he, his wife and their two daughters will move across the state.

But he will begin work in Lee’s Summit on July 5.

Mehner said they would take time to consider how the chamber is organized and re-evaluate positions before announcing a job opening.

“Obviously we’ll be hiring somebody, but you don’t hire a replacement for Tim, if you know what I mean,” Mehner said.

Arbeiter is pleased to remain in the state of Missouri, where he can stay in contact and continue working with is colleagues in Cape Girardeau, but looks forward to his new home and his new job.

“I’m excited. It’s got a great plan, great community, great staff, a very active board and volunteer base,” Arbeiter said. “It’s a great recipe for a strong chamber. And they definitely do have a strong chamber.”

bbrown@semissourian.com

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