Area chamber will seek new leader
The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce named board chairman Brian Albert its interim president and CEO after J.J. Hollie resigned from the position after nearly nine years last week.
The chamber will conduct a comprehensive executive search to replace Hollie, who was president and CEO of the chamber since 2015. The chamber did not disclose a reason for his sudden resignation, and attempts to reach Hollie were unsuccessful.
“We extend our gratitude to J.J. Hollie for his dedication and contributions to our organization,” Albert said in a release.
The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce is the largest business organization in the Houston region, representing more than 1,300 area employers. In 2015, the chamber reportedly represented around 2,400 companies.
During Hollie’s tenure, The Woodlands saw a transformation from an unsteady oil and gas-centric market to a burgeoning health care hub. In 2015, crude oil prices had nearly halved when compared with the previous year, and 32% of the workforce was in energy.
Health care has since flipped from 18 to 33% of the workforce, with health care expansions planned from the mini medical center to Creekside Park. Life sciences are making a return as biotech companies relocate to The Woodlands’ Research Forest.
“It wasn’t long ago that oil and gas was the No. 1 employer,” Hollie said in February 2023. “Now, health care has more than taken the lead for many of different reasons . ... We have all the major hospitals in the medical center represented in The Woodlands, so you can get 99% of your procedures done (here.)"
Hollie said supporting small businesses and promoting business-friendly policies across issues ranging from transportation to water were also key to the chamber’s role.
“The chamber’s job is to make sure that the water’s good,” Hollie said. “We work on a lot of issues so that people can focus on their business.”
A former product manager for Consolidated Communications and TXU Communications, Hollie’s past work includes serving on the LufkinAngelina County Chamber of Commerce and working as a staff assistant in Washington, D.C., on issues from education to forest service and Social Security.
Albert has been a member of the board of directors since 2020 and is a partner in The Woodlands office of Kean Miller LLP specializing in business, corporate and real estate law.
Albert will lead the chamber as it conducts a search for Hollie’s more permanent replacement.
“As we embark on the journey to find new leadership, we are filled with optimism and enthusiasm for the opportunities that lie ahead, “Albert said in a statement. “With a steadfast commitment to our local business community and chamber members, we are confident that our next leader will guide us to new heights of success, innovation, and collaboration.”