Ron Bunch, CEcD

President & CEO

Ron Bunch, CEcD serves as the president and CEO of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, leading the Chamber, the Bowling Green Area Economic Development Authority (BGAEDA) and the Intermodal Transportation Authority (ITA).

Having more than 16 years of economic development experience, Bunch is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and has led successful local and regional economic development efforts in three states prior to coming to Kentucky. Since joining the Chamber in January 2011, he has been elected to several statewide organizations' Board of Directors: the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Japan-America Society of Kentucky, and the Indo-Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. Most recently, he was elected to serve on the Kentucky Association for Economic Development Board of Directors. In 2011, the Chamber has participated in five economic development announcements, which will create 773 jobs and an investment of more than $168 million in South Central Kentucky.

Prior to relocating to Bowling Green, Bunch was executive director of the Business Development Board of Martin County (BDBMC). While he was at the BDBMC, 12 Martin County companies were honored for their innovation and economic impact with Governor's Business Diversification awards, more than any other county in Florida for three consecutive years. In the 2010 fiscal year, the BDBMC announced 11 projects to create 1,182 jobs and invest more than $11.8 million in the local economy.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist appointed Bunch to serve on the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council Board to represent Enterprise Florida, the state's official economic development agency, while Bunch was executive director of the BDBMC. Also a member of the Stakeholders Council for Enterprise Florida and the Board of Directors of the Florida Economic Development Council (FEDC), he held two terms as chairman of the Board of Florida's Research Coast Economic Development Coalition. In 2009, he was selected as the Business Advocate of the Year by the Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce, and he was named as Workforce Solutions' 2008-2009 Partner of the Year. Bunch was co-chair of the local 2010 United Way fundraising campaign.

Before assuming his responsibilities in Florida, Bunch was the economic development director for the City of Danville, VA. While he served in this position, the City announced more than 6,100 direct new jobs and a capital investment of more than $569 million. Under his leadership, Danville received national recognition for economic development in Site Selection magazine, Trade & Industry Development magazine and Foreign Direct Investment magazine. Virginia Governor Tim Kaine appointed Bunch to the Commonwealth's Economic Development Strategic Planning Steering Committee.

A 1990 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Bunch holds a Bachelor of Science degree in economics with a focus in general engineering. He is married to Hilary and has two daughters, Haley (16) and Catherine (13).