Articles

Melbourne Regional Chamber names Christian Malesic as new president and CEO; has wide experience

Brevard Business News

by Staff

After an “extensive national search,” Christian Malesic has been appointed the new president and chief executive officer of the Melbourne Regional Chamber of Commerce of East Central Florida. He will replace Chuck Galy, who has been serving as the interim president since October. Galy will resume his post as executive vice president upon Malesic’s arrival in mid–August.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with our choice,” said Glen Chaney, the 2015 chairman of the board of directors of the Melbourne Regional Chamber.

“Our extensive national search process involved the review and screening of more than 100 applicants, with over a dozen interviews, four follow–up interviews, and eventually the selection of two candidates, who were invited to make final presentations to the Chamber’s search committee. Christian was clearly the front runner, possessing the education and experience in organizational management necessary to lead our Chamber forward.”

Malesic is an accomplished leader, bringing extensive experience in community outreach, public service, political leadership, business and membership development, as well as marketing expertise to the Chamber, said Chaney.

While serving as executive officer at the Home Builders Association of Berks County in Reading, Pa., Malesic was recognized as a “trend–setting and dynamic leader,” earning the “Best–in–Nation New Executive Officer” honor in 2013 from the National Association of Home Builders.

During his tenure with the HBA in Pennsylvania, not only did Malesic lead the organization to a balanced budget, the HBA also was recognized with four Best–in-Nation Awards for: Best–in–Nation Publication for “At Home in Berks” magazine, Best–in–Nation Community Service Project for HBA Restoring Hope Extreme Home Makeover, Best–in–Nation Social Media for innovative use of the HBA’s YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and
Pinterest, and Best–in–Nation Web 2.0 for incorporating social media with new website technology and site design.

Malesic has considerable personnel management experience gained from almost six years as a U.S. Air Force officer, where he managed InterContinental Ballistics Missiles at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota.

During his military service, in which he achieved the rank of captain, Malesic was hand–selected for a "Participation with Industry” program, where he served as an engineering liaison to Northrop Grumman Corp. to design and build the Joint STARS aircraft at the Melbourne International Airport.

Malesic earned his MBA, with distinguished honors, from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. He also holds bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and political science from Lehigh University, and in business administration with a concentration in marketing, from Elizabethtown College. Malesic is a graduate of the four–year Institute for Organizational Management, the most “highly respected program nationwide” for nonprofit Chamber and association management. The program is hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.