Katie Koester Named Next Chamber President, CEO

The Effingham County Chamber has announced the appointment of Katie Koester as the next President & CEO, effective August 19. 

Katie shared her excitement, stating, "I am honored to step into the role of President & CEO of the Effingham County Chamber. The Chamber is important to me, as it represents my hometown and where my professional journey began after college. This new role is both exciting and humbling, and I look forward to collaborating with the business community. Together, we will work towards fostering growth, innovation, and continued success for Effingham County." 

Katie earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management from Kentucky Christian University in 2010 and has diligently pursued her career in various business ventures. For the past seven years, she has served as Integrator/CEO at Firefly Grill, a renowned Midwest eatery. During her tenure, Katie bolstered organizational success, managed daily operations, and increased company revenue through improved marketing and customer engagement strategies. 

From 2011 to 2013, Katie served as the Program Coordinator of the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce, facilitating work between internal team members and Chamber members. From 2013 to 2017, she was the Director of Weddings & Events at Keller Convention Center, where she grew in her management skills and achieved continued success as a leader and planner. 

Katie is also an active member of the community, involved in organizations such as Effingham Sunrise Rotary, City of Effingham Tourism & Activity Board, Effingham Unit #40 Education Foundation, 100+ Women Who Care of Effingham County, and 40Forward. 

Dr. Austin Cheney, the 2024 Board Chair, expressed confidence in Katie Koester's appointment, stating, “The Chamber Board unanimously selected Katie to lead the Chamber into the future. We had strong candidates, but Katie’s executive experience, connections in the Effingham County community, and enthusiasm and vision for the role were evident throughout the search process.” 

More information about the Effingham County Chamber can be found online at EffinghamCountyChamber.com.