As of Monday, March 22, Joseph Shumard is no longer Director of Membership at the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce. He has been replaced by Jay Palermino who has served in a consulting role at the Chamber since September 2009.

Shumard, who helped hold the Chamber together during its search for a new chief last year, is long time head of the Alexandria George Washington Birthday Parade. He joined the Chamber staff in February of 2008. Prior to that he had been in banking with Commerce Bank.

“Joe will be moving into a consulting role with us, heading up our Government Contracting Consortium and the Internet Engagement Group,” said Chamber President and CEO Tina Leone. “Both of these are very important activities of the Chamber. These are where Joe’s interests lie. We value everything he has done for the Chamber and want to keep him involved,” she said.

Shumard did not confirm the new assignments. 

“I’m still in the stage of exploring options,” he said.

Shumard helped establish the Government Contract Consortium in late 2009 and the Internet Engagement Group got underway in February 2010, according to Leone. The Contract Consortium is designed as an information forum to help those engaged in government contracting while the Internet Group’s mission is to help companies better utilize technology.

Another new Chamber endeavor, The Alexandria Restaurant Commission, held its organizational meeting last week at The Lyceum, Leone confirmed. 

“There were 50 restauranters present discussing issues pertaining to the restaurant business in Alexandria and how they, as a group, and the city can better work together. Jay was instrumental in forming this group,” she said. “He will now move from a consulting status to staff.”

Catherine Roper is another recent addition to the Chamber staff, hired in January 2010 to fill the newly created position of vice president of operations.