Lorraine Clarno of Beaverton, Oregon, has been selected to serve as the new president and CEO of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce.

Current President/CEO Joe Unterreiner is stepping down from the position this fall after more than 20 years with the organization.

Clarno will officially start Oct. 12 and take over in her new position by mid-November.

Clarno previously worked for the Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce, serving as CEO for the organization in the Portland-area suburb for 20 years. In that role, Clarno grew that organization into the largest inclusive Chamber of Commerce in the state of Oregon, according to a press release from the Kalispell Chamber.

While there, she launched various business initiatives, including IMPACT Beaverton, an economic partnership with the city of Beaverton to serve micro and small business startups; 100 Women Strong, a mentorship and charitable-minded group of professional women; the Beaverton Business Recovery Center to help businesses reopen and deal with COVID-19 challenges; and the Save Small Business Coalition, a national group of trade associations who seek solutions to fund and ensure business survival.

Clarno previously spent time in the Flathead Valley, and she took a citywide tour of Kalispell in August.

“I am so excited and ready to immerse myself in Kalispell and the Flathead Valley,” Clarno said in a prepared statement. “Kalispell is well on its way to great heights, bringing more jobs and economic vitality to the beautiful and vibrant area. Downtown Kalispell is a gem with so much rich potential. I hope to play a small part in establishing a community vision over the next few years by working with property and business owners to create an even more vibrant and bustling area.”

As president/CEO Clarno will oversee the Kalispell Chamber’s staff of 11 and report to the group’s four-member executive committee and 26-member board of directors.

She will direct chamber initiatives such as workforce development and developing downtown, and will lead Discover Kalispell, the official tourism marketing agency for Kalispell.

The Kalispell Chamber organized a search committee of business leaders earlier this summer and partnered with local staffing firm LC Staffing to find a successor for Unterreiner.

“Lorraine has demonstrated both the ability to build a strong organization over time and the capacity to pivot and provide exceptional value during unprecedented times, most recently in the face of COVID-19,” said Tom Ray, current chairman of the board for the Kalispell Chamber. “Her visionary leadership will be of incredible value here in Kalispell. As a board, we are eager to begin with Lorraine at the helm.”