Show-Me State Times

Kara Corches has been appointed as the President and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The announcement was made by the Missouri Chamber Board of Directors Executive Committee on October 29, following a three-month national search.

Corches has been serving as the Interim President and CEO, as well as Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs. She has played a significant role in the organization's advocacy efforts, including supporting the passage of Fast Track and the Credential Training Program to improve Missouri's workforce. Corches also led initiatives to protect Missouri’s free enterprise system from governmental mandates and directed political efforts through the Missouri Chamber Political Institute.

This appointment marks a historic moment for the organization, as Corches becomes its first female president in 101 years. She was selected from a diverse group of candidates with backgrounds in business, politics, and trade associations. The Search Committee comprised members from the Missouri Chamber’s Board of Directors.

Brad Thomas, president of Silver Dollar City Company and chairman of the Missouri Chamber's board, expressed confidence in Corches' capabilities: “The Missouri Chamber’s focus is to be a strong voice for our state’s businesses. When businesses thrive, so does our state’s economy,” he said. “A thriving economy impacts employment opportunity, wage growth and ultimately the health of communities and counties across our state. Kara has proven she can be a formidable voice that will fight for Missouri’s business community.”

Corches joined the Missouri Chamber in 2019 and has held various positions since then. Before her tenure at the chamber, she served as chief lobbyist for the California Optometric Association in Sacramento and worked in political affairs at the California Farm Bureau Federation. Her experience also includes roles at the federal level with the American Medical Association and a member of Congress.

“I am honored to have been selected to serve as President and CEO of an organization that has a track record of producing impactful results for the business community,” Corches stated. “I look forward to leaning into our work to boldly advocate for pro-business policies, maximize our impact in the political arena, and ultimately help position Missouri as an economic powerhouse."

Corches holds a master’s degree in public policy and administration from California State University, Sacramento, along with a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from Baylor University. She lives with her husband Gwen and their child near Jefferson City.