Ralph Schulz
The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday that chief executive officer Ralph Schulz will retire.
According to a release, Schulz has served in the role since 2006. The release notes Schulz will remain with the organization until a replacement has been hired.
Eighteen years ago, Schulz replaced Mike Neal, who left for Tulsa after negotiating a buyout settlement with the chamber. Sources told the Nashville Post then that Schulz was runner-up for the job to Neal when the latter was hired in 2002.
Previously, Schulz assisted in splitting the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau from the chamber and later was named chairman of the CVB. Before joining the chamber, he worked as CEO at what was then called the Cumberland Science Museum, driving a name change to Adventure Science Center.
Over the years, Schulz has faced criticism in some quarters for placing what critics felt has been excessive emphasis on Middle Tennessee business at the expense of businesses in Nashville-Davidson County.
“Ralph has played a critically important role in the life of our region, and of this organization, for the better part of two decades as Chamber CEO, and for many more years than that as a community leader,“ Wright Pinson, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors chairman, said in the release. “He will leave behind a legacy of tireless service and significant success.”
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
