Mission Statement

The purpose of the Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce is to promote the cultural, educational and industrial interests of the East Dallas Area so that its businesses, neighborhoods and citizens shall prosper.

Our Purpose

The multifaceted approach of the Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce provides benefits to our members in a variety of different arenas. We offer a number of forums for the promotion of all of our member businesses. We are also proud to provide our members with relevant information regarding the East Dallas community, as well as insight into local, state and national government issues. The events that provide a conduit for these benefits, and others, include our monthly luncheons that highlight a variety of topics addressed by featured keynote speakers. We also present an annual Economic Summit - essentially a "state of the union" with respect to the Dallas Economy. Member businesses and guests are encouraged to gather and exchange information through our numerous networking events, especially our Business After Hours excursions, which are hosted by a spotlighted member business. Sponsorship opportunities abound for these events, as well as for many of our other Chamber gatherings. For more information, please contact the chamber directly.

History of the Chamber

• 1967 Greater East & South Dallas COC merged with the Eastern Dallas COC. At the time they were under the leadership of Sheffie Kadane Sr, President of Pure Ice & Cold Storage Co.
• 1971 The Greater East & South Dallas COC changed name to the East Dallas COC under leadership of Don Wright of Lakewood Bank & Trust
• 1985 Lakewood Business Men's Association of Dallas, established in 1948 changed entity name to be officially known as the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce. Jim Davis, then of Country Garden Florist and more recently known as the Founder of DOT (Disciples of Trinity), at that time led the Chamber serving several years at its Chairman
• 1996 the East Dallas COC led by Sherryl Wesson of Ebby Halliday Realtors and the Lakewood COC led by Annette Stone of State Farm Insurance joined forces,

merging and changing name to Dallas Northeast COC 

• 2013, under the leadership of Roger Perry (Lakehill Preparatory School headmaster) in his 3rd year as Chairman, name officially changed to the Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce

The Greater East Dallas Chamber is a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the State of Texas Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce
The first Chamber of Commerce was originated in Marseilles, France, late in the 17th century.  Today, every country in the world has a chamber in some form.  In the United States, there are more than 40,000 Chambers of Commerce, most of which serve local communities.

 Past chairmen -
​January 19, 2016

Current Chairman Andrea Sanders, Dr. Rick Sorrells, Darlene Ellison, Joy Hopkins, Michaux Nash, Bulldog Cunningham, Charlotte Herr, Pete Sessions, Sherryl Wesson, Roger Perry, Mary Poss.

A salute to former chairs - January 21, 2014

Bud Doxey, Don Wilson, Sherryl Wilson, Bulldog Cunningham, Sandy Vullo, Roger Perry, Charlotte Herr,
Carl Scheiffer, Joy Hopkins, Michael Miles, Liz Lokey, Paul Lokey, Mary Poss, Pete Sessions, Jim Davis.

Celebrating  75  years   1945-2020

past chamber chairmen

​1945       Gordon Hall       
1953       John Maxwell   
1953       Bruce Alger                                        
1954       J. L. Parker                                         
1955       Dr. John H. McCullough                
1956       Lee McShan                       
1957       Donald G. Dossett           
1958       Jerry R. Hanna  
1959       John A. Maxwell              
1960       Robert C. Haden                                              
1962       James Fountain                                
1963       Roy T. Moses                                    
1964       Frank I. Hopkins               
1965       Frank I. Hopkins               
1966       Lyle W. Ozmun                                 
1967       Sheffield Kadane                             
1968       Sheffield Kadane                             
1970       Lyle Ozmun                                       
1971       Don Wright                                        
1972       Bill Wood                                           
1973       Herschel Brown                               
1974       Richard Cobb                                    
1975       John M. Davis                                   
1976       Earl Allen                                            
1977       Myrtie Britain                                    
1978       Robert L. Burns                                
1979       George Thomas                               
1980       Paul Lokey                                         
1981       Cecil Mills                                           
1982       Virginia Belcher               
1983       Earl Allen                                             .
1984       Louis Gorr                                          
1985       Greg Upp                                            
1986       Liz Minyard Lokey                           
1987       Carl Schieffer                                    
1988       Jack Gorman                                     
1989       Jack Gorman                                     
1990       Elizabeth Zaby                                  
1991       Michaux Nash, Jr                             
1992       Bill Cook                                             
1993       Pete Sessions                                   
1994       Suzanne Cochran                                            
1995       Greg Blair                                            
1996       Sherryl Wesson                                
1997       Sandi Vullo                                         
1998       Don Wilson                                        
1999       Joy Hopkins                                       
2000       Larry Jones                                        
2001       Mary Bedosky                                  
2002       Mary Bedosky                                  
2003       Bulldog Cunningham                     
2004       Bulldog Cunningham                     
2005       Michael Miles                                   
2006       Michael Miles                                   
2007       Charlotte Herr                                  
2008       Dr. Rick Sorrells                
2009       Mary Poss                                          
2010       Mary Poss                                          
2011       Roger Perry                                       
2012       Roger Perry                                       
2013       Roger Perry                                       
2014       Darlene Doxey Ellison    
2015       Darlene Doxey Ellison    
2016       Andrea Sanders               
2017       Andrea Sanders                               
2018       Darlene Doxey Ellison                    
2019       Mike Nurre                                        
2020       Steve More