Kathleen Davis joined the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey in 1995 and served as the President’s second-in-command until 2019. Davis was the first female COO of the Chamber. As Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Davis was responsible for overseeing the government relations, special events, marketing and communications, finance, and member retention functions of the Chamber. For two decades, she served as lead facilitator for the South Jersey Summer Institute for Educators, a three-week long program for teachers that exposes them to the region’s business community including the skills and characteristics businesses seek in the future workforce – their students. In 2012, Davis, along with Rowan University School of Business professors Linda Ross and Kimble Byrd, published a study in the Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice that examined the long-term impacts of the Summer Institute. Davis served on Governor Christie’s Privatization Task Force, and Camden City Mayor Redd’s Transition Team, where she co-chaired the Economic Development & Entrepreneurial Committee. She also served as a member of the Courier-Post Editorial Board.
Prior to her position at the CCSNJ, Davis was Director, Government Affairs for New Jersey American Water Company, Assistant to the Governor (Jim Florio), and was Supervisor, Government Relations for South Jersey Gas Company.
She has been recognized by South Jersey Magazine as “33 People to Watch,” received the Boy Scouts of Gloucester County Distinguished Citizens Award, NJBIZ Best 50 Women, NJBIZ’s ICON Award, U.S. Department of Defense Seven Seals Award and received Rowan University’s 2016 Alumni Ambassador Award. In 2019, she received the Rowan University Rohrer College of Business Medal of Excellence for Distinguished Service.
Davis is a 1981 graduate of Rowan University, receiving her B.A. in Law/Justice. She resides in West Deptford Township with her husband, Mark. They are the proud parents of their son, Craig.