Largent Takes Planned Retirement; Marseilles Named Chamber President/CEO

Harrison, AR, June 9, 2023.  Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Jim Holland, formally announced today that Bob Largent, President and CEO of the Chamber, will be taking his planned retirement at the end of the year after more than 4 years of leading the organization. Largent has been credited with guiding increases in membership, leading several new workforce initiatives, and establishing strong relationships with business and community leaders throughout the region for the Chamber’s economic development mission. 

Holland, also President of Phillips Media, remarked, "Our organization owes a great deal of gratitude to Bob for his years of significant service. Under his leadership, we've seen increased success in advancing the interests of the business community and enhancements to the quality of life here in Harrison.”

Wilson Marseilles has been appointed the Chamber’s new President/CEO effective July 1st. In this new role, he’ll lead the Chamber in its economic development mission through leadership, education, and investor relations.

Holland noted, “We’re excited that Wilson’s proven leadership, innovation, business competencies, and organizational management make him the right person to lead the Chamber going forward. The past three years he’s demonstrated an uncanny ability to juggle the myriad requirements of Chamber work, focused here in Harrison and Boone County on Taking Care of Business.”

Following graduation with a finance degree from the University of Central Arkansas and a year working in Cabot, Marseilles returned home to Harrison in late 2019, joining the Chamber as its Director of Investors and Marketing that November. He was promoted to Vice President of the Chamber in January 2022. Largent said, “I’m thrilled that Wilson will lead the Chamber going forward! He’s excelled with everything he’s touched here, raising the bar for the staff and, most importantly, our investors. Our revamped adult and youth leadership programs are a direct result of his innovation. He’s led the Chamber’s social media and communications enhancements; our digital media reach has increased 35% from 450,000 to 605,000. His successful efforts to grow the Chamber’s engagement with our workforce and career development partners has set the mark for other economic development organizations around the state and region.” 

A May 2023 graduate of Class XVII of Leadership Arkansas, Marseilles has also completed the International Economic Development Council’s Midsouth Basic Economic Development Course. He’s entering his second year of UCA's Community Development Institute and will be headed into the second year of the four-year curriculum of the Institute for Organizational Management, leading to his Certified Chamber Executive designation by the US Chamber of Commerce. He was recognized by the Arkansas Community Development Society with their 2023 New Community Developer of the Year award. He serves as treasurer of the Harrison Lions Club and a board member of the Harrison Country Club, and is an avid golf and basketball enthusiast. He and his wife Sydnee enjoy raising their 7 month old son, Warren.

Marseilles noted, “The Chamber continues to prove that we can have a positive impact on business, the community, and the economic development of our area. Bob has accomplished much in realigning our mission from festivals to economic development and will continue to serve as a great mentor to me through the end of the year. I’m honored by the Board’s trust to continue building on our relationships and accelerating our growth moving forward.”

About the Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce

The mission of the Harrison (Arkansas) Regional Chamber of Commerce is to be recognized as the premier business organization influencing Harrison’s and the greater Boone County’s economic and business development through leadership, education, and investor partnerships. The investor-driven Chamber also recognizes, values and promotes the outstanding quality of life locally that encourages people to live, work, invest and retire in the area.  For more information, please visit www.harrison-chamber.com.