New President and CEO for Anchorage Chamber of Commerce

A telecom manager and concert musician is the new President and CEO of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce. The organization’s board hired Kathleen McArdle, a relatively recent transplant to the city.

McArdle has worked as manager of sales operations for Verizon and helped establish the company’s Alaska presence. Her responsibilities include local marketing and managing Verizon’s employee volunteers and grant funding. Since moving to Alaska nearly ten years ago, McArdle has served on the boards of Anchorage Opera and the Anchorage Community Concert Band, where she performs on tenor saxophone.

Ryann Swalling, chair of the Anchorage Chamber board of directors, says McArdle was chosen due to her varied experience in small business, professional services, and corporate landscapes; her personable professionalism; and data-driven idea generation. “Kathleen holds a passion for a thriving Anchorage business community, which is quite evident when she discusses the Chamber and its mission,” Swalling says.

McArdle studied psychology at Texas Tech University and Our Lady of the Lake University, earning a master’s degree and practicing as a licensed counselor with individuals and groups in clinical settings. She then obtained an MBA degree from Grand Canyon University.