Ted Owen, long-time president and CEO of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, has announced that he will retire effective January 2019.

“I’ve been deeply honored to have dedicated the past 14 years to the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce,” said Owen.

Owen came to the chamber in 2004, after retiring as president and publisher of the San Diego Business Journal. He said his time at the chamber “taught me many new things about the importance of providing our businesses with the resources they need to succeed, and to cheer them on as they move forward.”

Under Owen’s leadership, the organization has grown to represent more than 1,300 businesses employing 53,000 people. He spearheaded development of the Small Business Success Center, which is dedicated to assisting small business members with maintaining and expanding their businesses.

“He is a true advocate for businesses of all sizes and for large infrastructure projects like the desalination and power plant projects in the face of significant opposition,” said Ahmed Haque, chairman of the chamber’s board. “Ted has mentored many business people like myself, who have relied on his knowledge of the community, his broad relationships and political instincts.”

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