The Marietta Daily Journal reports Gary Bottoms, president of Marietta-based insurance agency The Bottoms Group, has been named the the next chairman for the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce.
Bottoms will take over at the start of 2017, replacing current commerce head Terry DeWitt. The president of the Cobb chamber, David Connell, released a statement announcing the 30-year veteran of the chamber would be taking over as leader of the chamber’s business and economic arena.
“Gary brings a valuable skill set to our organization, and I’m certain his experience as a successful small business owner and his commitment to this community will serve our Chamber and its members well,” Connell said.
Bottoms graduated from Georgia Tech and has had a long career in insurance, including employee benefits and health insurance.
The individual previously considered to succeed DeWitt was former Kennesaw State University President Dan Papp. Papp resigned from his position at KSU in May after an audit revealed he had accepted over $500,000 in retirement funds while he was still working.
Papp removed himself from consideration for the commerce position in July.
As the chairman of the commerce chamber, Bottoms will be overseeing development in a county that is growing at twice the national rate and is undergoing one of the biggest structural projects in its history in SunTrust Park.
The new stadium for the Atlanta Braves, set to open up in the Vinings area in 2017, is expected to bring in dining and shopping in the areas surrounding the structure.
