Staff & Volunteers
Our Staff
Elaine Spalding
President
(704) 633-4221 | espalding@rowanchamber.com
Elaine Spalding has served as President of the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce since May 2013. She has helped the Chamber receive national recognition with 2017 Top 10 Retention Award; 2016 Top 10 Retention Award; and, 2015 Chamber of the Year Finalist from the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE).
She is a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) and serves on the CCE Commission. She is also a U.S. Chamber Institute of Management (IOM) Graduate.
Her other board involvement includes: President of the Carolina Chamber of Commerce Executives; Board of Salisbury Rotary Club; Board of Rowan Economic Development; Graduate of Leadership Rowan; and, volunteer with Communities in Schools.
Spalding received her Bachelor of Science degrees in journalism and speech from Murray State University. She is married to Watercolor Artist Keyth Kahrs (Railwalk Gallery) and they spend their free-time kayaking and hiking with their dog, Barkley.
Carol Lewis
Vice President of Finance & Operations
(704) 633-4221 | finance@rowanchamber.com
Carol Lewis is the Vice President of Finance & Operations at the Chamber. She previously served as the Interim CFO/Director of Business Services at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Customer Service Manager for the City of Salisbury.
She serves on the Executive Board and Treasurer for the Rowan County Literacy Council; also, serves on the Board for Communities in Schools of Rowan County.
Lewis earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Science in Management degree from National-Louis University in Chicago, along with a Certificate in Travel and Hospitality from The Pittsburgh Institute of Technology.
She is married to Dr. Orlando W. Lewis, VP of Student Affairs at Livingstone College. They have three adult children, two grandchildren and love to spend time with family and travel in their free time.
Sydney Trexler Murphy
Member Services and Marketing Manager
(704) 633-4221 | smurphy@rowanchamber.com
Sydney is the Rowan Chamber's newest team member and serves as the Member Services and Marketing Manager. Murphy comes to the Chamber with experience in marketing and communication, most recently in the health care industry. She graduated with distinction from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she earned her degree in Advertising & Public Relations from the Hussman School of Media and Journalism. She is a native of Rowan County, and she and her husband, Jake, have a black Labrador Retriever.
Tina Jamison-Cowan
Adminstrative Assistant
(704) 633-4221 | admin@rowanchamber.com
Tina Jamison-Cowan is the Administrative Assistant at the Chamber. Formerly, she has worked as a property manager and has extensive experience with several banks in the Rowan area. In her spare time, Tina enjoys cooking and shopping. Tina and her husband, Howard, have two lovely daughters and live in Salisbury.
Ambassador Volunteers
In addition to our Board of Directors, volunteers serve as Ambassadors to welcome new members to our Chamber and serve on the Membership Committee.
Donna Groce, Ambassador Committee Chair, Trinity Oaks
Teresa Dakins, Ambassador, Trinity at Home, Inc.
Esther Atkins-Smith, Ambassador, Candlelight Consultants, LLC
Jessica Cloward, Ambassador, Lantern Realty & Development, LLC
Keyth Kahrs, Ambassador, Rail Walk Studios & Gallery
Jayne Land, Ambassador, Membership Committee, Century 21- Towne & Country
Jason Slusser, Salisbury Post
Dr. Kimberly D. Kelsey, Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home, Inc.
PJ Ricks, Ambassador, retired educator
Elia Gegorek, Ambassador, Gegorek & Associates
Carolyn Glasgow, Ambassador, Piedmont Players & Eastern Costume Company
Rosalind Hines, Ambassador, Workforce & Development Chair, Waggoner Realty
Karen Heilig Hurst, Ambassador, American Solutions for Business
Daniel Matangira, Ambassador & Dragon Boat Committee Chair, Rhema Transportation