The Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce has named Kelly Stroman - currently the head of the Downtown Manhattan Beach Business and Professionals Association - as its new president/CEO.

“Kelly is a respected leader in our community, having led The Downtown Manhattan Beach Business & Professional Association and the weekly Manhattan Beach Certified Farmers’ Market for over five years, and has also served on the MBCC Board of Directors," said Brad Sperber, board chair of the Chamber of Commerce, in a statement. "Kelly is a Manhattan Beach Rotarian and also serves on the city’s Homeless Action Committee as well as the chamber’s Legislative Action Committee and the Hospitality Committee. We are excited that she has joined the chamber in this capacity.”

Sperber cited her "business acumen, devotion to the South Bay and support from chamber members, staff, city leaders and community" as a leading factor in the decision. "There is no doubt that Kelly will do great things in the months ahead for local businesses and our community," he said.

"I am excited and honored for the opportunity to build upon the progress the chamber has made in Manhattan Beach and the South Bay," Stroman told DigMB. "I look forward to working with the staff, the board of directors and all stakeholders to raise the bar and be a champion for economic prosperity," . 

She added: "I thrive on connecting people, policy and projects in a way that they all prosper… The idea of being able to affect change on a larger scale is very exciting."

Stroman replaces Mark Lipps, who left the position on November 30. 

She will begin the full-time position on January 7.