Former Pinnacle Airlines CEO Named President and CEO of Greater Memphis Chamber

MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Phil Trenary is named as the new president and chief executive officer of the Greater Memphis Chamber, effective June 1, 2014. Trenary's past business experience and deep connection with Memphis will allow the Chamber to grow and expand its role in making Memphis great.

As the President and CEO of Pinnacle Airlines for 13 years, Trenary grew the business from a small private company earning $75 million annually to a publicly traded company over $1 billion in annual revenue. Since then, Trenary has provided strategic consulting services to the airline industry, assisted the leadership at the University of Memphis to achieve key milestones and provided strategic consulting to Emerge Memphis and Shelby Farms Park.

The selection of Trenary comes after a nationwide search by the Centre Group and the finalists were interviewed by the Chamber's Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.

"Phil's leadership has positioned the Chamber to break the cycle of poverty by creating new jobs and working to provide a high quality of life for all Memphians," said Leigh Shockey, chair of the board of the Greater Memphis Chamber and CEO of Drexel Chemical. "His experience in the private sector gives him first-hand knowledge of what companies' expectations are when it comes to doing business in Memphis."

"I am truly honored to join the team at the Greater Memphis Chamber, a group of dedicated people working every day to make Memphis great," said Trenary. "This is an exciting time to be in Memphis and I look forward to working in collaboration with our business and government leaders to do whatever it takes to retain and attract good jobs that are key to breaking the cycle of poverty.

Before his time at Pinnacle, Trenary founded Texas-based Lone Star Airlines and served as chief executive officer from 1984-1996. He earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering Technology from Oklahoma State University. He resides in downtown Memphis with his wife, Bridget and their children, Justin, Brittney and Pearce.

The Greater Memphis Chamber is the lead economic development organization for Memphis/Shelby County, and is a private, non-profit, membership-driven organization comprised of 2,300 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals.

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