Charlottesville Chamber announces new president and CEO

The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce has found its new president and CEO — ending a search process that began in August 2024.

The chamber announced Tuesday that it has promoted Charlottesville native Andrea Copeland, who has been the chamber’s interim CEO for about a year, to president and permanent CEO, effective immediately.

“Andrea has deep connectivity with our membership,” Jonathan Chasen, chair of the chamber’s board of directors, said in a statement. “As interim CEO, she has demonstrated a unique blend of strategic insight, collaborative spirit and a profound understanding of our region’s needs.”

Copeland joined the chamber in 2012 and has since taken on numerous leadership roles, including director of leadership for Charlottesville, director of member education services and chief operating officer.

Former President and CEO Natalie Masri departed from the role on Jan. 16, 2024, and Rebecca Ivins — who was previously chairwoman of the board — succeeded her in an interim capacity. Copeland stepped in as interim CEO last spring, Chasen said.

On Aug. 20, 2024, the chamber announced it had launched the search process for its next president and CEO.

Mariane Asad Doyle, vice chair of the chamber’s board of directors, said in a statement that Copeland is highly respected in the Charlottesville business community and that throughout the search process, “members consistently expressed strong support for her promotion.”

Copeland is on boards and committees for several organizations, including the Community Investment Collaborative, Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau, Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development and the Center for Nonprofit Excellence.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Copeland has a bachelor’s degree in human services counseling from Old Dominion University. She also received an Institute for Organization Management designation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2023. She completed the Certificate in Chamber Management program offered by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives in 2024.

“I am honored and excited to serve as the next president and CEO of our chamber,” Copeland said in a statement. “The Charlottesville community is special to me. It’s a region full of resilience, innovation and opportunity. I’m looking forward to working in partnership with our board, staff, members and community stakeholders to expand our chamber’s impact through membership, advocacy and economic growth.”

The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce advocates for businesses in the greater Charlottesville region. It has about 680 members, primarily located in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.