The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce announces a new face for the organization. Heather Kasten, now the President and CEO of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, takes over the Sarasota group on March 4.

“Sarasota and the region are a thriving business community, and I am very excited to work with the Board, the GSCC team and the community to advance the mission of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce,” she says.

Kasten is no stranger to the organization. Before taking the helm at the Lakewood Ranch business group, Kasten worked for three and a half years at the Sarasota Chamber. There, she started as a membership services representative before rising to Vice President for the Membership Experience.

It was there she forged stronger business connections within the Sarasota and Manatee areas, which proved vital when she became the leader for the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance. There, she’s doubled membership numbers and helped the organization regularly exceed its yearly revenue goals. She’s also in that time turned the group’s events into must-stop for state leadership and regularly convened leaders from the two counties in Lakewood Ranch, a community that spans across the county line.

“Heather has the perfect balance of community involvement, organizational expertise and leadership skills to make an immediate impact as she takes the reins of this great organization,” said John LaCivita, board chairman for the Chamber. “The Board and I are confident that with Heather’s leadership, the Chamber will continue to powerfully represent its members today and continue to build on the Chamber’s strong foundation for an even greater tomorrow.”

She succeeds Kevin Cooper, who announced in December he would step down to take on a job as Vice President for Communications & Strategic Initiatives at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.