Jennifer Tavares, CEcD, is the President & CEO of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, a progressive chamber and destination marketing organization with the mission of fostering sustainable economic growth through service to its members, strategic advocacy, workforce development, destination marketing, and quality of life investments. She also serves as the President of the Tompkins Chamber Foundation, and is the President of the Downtown Ithaca Local Development Corporation, which is the project owner of the Ithaca Downtown Conference Center.

Previously, Ms. Tavares served as the Director of Economic Development for Chenango County, NY, working at Commerce Chenango on behalf of the county’s lead economic development organization and industrial development agency. In this role she supported hundreds of microenterprises and small businesses, delivered incentives to manufacturing projects, and managed revolving loan funds.  Ms. Tavares also has experience leading the chamber of commerce in Potsdam, NY, and started her career in the private sector, working for a small manufacturer in northern New York.

Ms. Tavares currently serves on the board of Ithaca Area Economic Development, the Tompkins County Workforce Development Board, the Air Services Board, the Downtown Ithaca Local Development Corporation, and the State Theatre of Ithaca.

Ms. Tavares enjoys time outdoors with her family, making pottery, cooking, and reading. She and her husband Nathan have two children, and live in Lansing, NY.