The African American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) is welcoming new leadership to their team. In December 2020, the organization announced the appointment of Regina A. Hairston as the new CEO of the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware regions. Hairston is set to start her new role on January 5. Prior to her new job, Hairston worked as the chief deputy register at the Philadelphia Register of Wills, leading the response to the pandemic, allowing residents to opt for virtual delivery services for marriage licenses as well as probate services. She has also worked as a senior associate at Bellevue Strategies, where she worked with Starbucks by assisting the company with brand outreach and new partnership strategies within Philadelphia.
“Regina has a wealth of senior government, public, and private-sector leadership experience making her the ideal candidate for the position,” African American Chamber Board Chairman Steven Scott Bradley said in a statement to Philadelphia Business Journal. “She is a results-driven leader who has built her career on advocating on behalf of diverse constituencies, and we are beyond confident that she will help our members navigate this uncertain time.”
With over 20 years of experience in management, the Virginia native is determined to see Black businesses flourish, after growing up seeing her relatives run their own businesses. “I am passionate about building strong African American communities,” Hairston said in an interview with Philadelphia Tribune.
“We know that small businesses are the economic engine of the city, so if we support and empower our African American owned businesses, we are creating stronger communities in which they are located and in which they serve. I just felt that this is the position for me at this time.”
