The Greater San Diego Business Association (GSDBA), the second largest GLBT supportive chamber of commerce in the country, has appointed San Diego native Tom Luhnow as its new chief executive officer.

“I am very excited, very enthusiastic about the position,” Luhnow said.

“After a nationwide search, the board voted for Tom unanimously,” said GSDBA Board Chair Jon Borgeson. “Tom brings a wealth of experience to the table that will help our members grow their businesses, as together we make a difference in the fight for equality.”

Previously, Luhnow served as the executive director of Flying House Productions (FHP), home of the Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus for 12 years. His achievements at the production company included establishing its financial stability, expanding its fundraising efforts and starting its women’s chorus.

Bob Cook, past FHP board president, said Luhnow “had a very positive impact on the community as well as in the organization.” “He will be missed.”

Luhnow will replace outgoing GSDBA Chief Executive Officer Joyce Marieb, who served in the position for the past nine years and facilitated the organization’s growth to a current membership of more than 800 businesses and professionals.

On her reasons for retiring, Marieb said “I just figured it was time for a change in the organization and a change for me.”

The GSDBA board had two things in mind in its search for a new executive director: someone with a “strong LGBT nonprofit experience” and a “strong business background.”

“That was the struggle. We found a lot of people with one or the other but not a combination,” Borgeson said. “Luhnow turned out to be the perfect candidate.”

Why did Luhnow apply for the position? That goes back to a conversation Luhnow had with his friend, Louise Chernin, who directs the Greater Seattle Business Association, the GLBT chamber of commerce in Seattle.

“She’s an old friend of mine, and I watched what she did. So when I saw the position come open, I said, ‘Oh my gosh, Louise. I’m from San Diego. Tell me about them,” Luhnow said.

I told Tom that “the GSDBA was very committed to its members being successful and to working for civil rights of their community,” Chernin, who is friends with Marieb, said.

After counsel from Chernin, Luhnow did some homework and found out that his work at FHP was both similar and different to the GSDBA position.

“The position is very similar, in many ways, to what I did in Seattle, in that you are a spokesperson for the organization and represent a whole group of people. [It’s also] different in that you’re going out to more events and interacting with more people for your membership and you’re not selling tickets to concerts,” he said.

After learning more about the GSDBA, Luhnow wondered if his skills were transferable.

“When I read the job description, I thought they totally were,” Luhnow said, and then asked Chernin.

“She said, ‘Absolutely. You’d be great at it’,” he said.

“He is really good in cultivating donors and stewardship of the donor base and working with boards,” Chernin said. “I thought that those skills would be great assets for the GSDBA.”

Luhnow took over on July 13 and the board isn’t shy with its accolades.

“We’re real pleased. Real pleased,” Borgeson said.

So far Luhnow’s goals for the organization are practical.

“At this point, my plans are to keep the organization financially strong and that our members succeed in business,” he said.

As for Marieb, she will be doing just fine. She has planned a long vacation.

“I’m going to take six months for myself and plan to do nothing but have fun,” she said.