Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce

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Our President

Chamber President Roland DorsonRoland M. Dorson is president of the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, a business advocacy organization representing 4,300 businesses in central Indiana. Dorson joined the Chamber in 1991 as executive vice president and has served as president since January 2006.

In October of 2008, Dorson led a delegation of more than 60 business and community leaders to Denver, Colorado for the 2008 Leadership Exchange in order to stimulate dialogue and discover strategies that will strengthen the vision and success of Greater Indianapolis. The delegation studied Denver’s ability to secure funding and support for the expansion of the city’s mass transit system. Under Dorson’s leadership, the Chamber conducted a study that revealed strong support for a publicly-funded mass transit system in central Indiana. Dorson will continue to advocate for a comprehensive mass transportation system for Greater Indianapolis.

In an effort to further streamline local government, Dorson was a leading voice in the fight for smaller, more efficient government. The Chamber’s efforts helped pass a public referendum in the 2008 General Election that shifts the duties of township property tax assessors to county assessors in Marion County.  Dorson is currently working with the Chamber’s Business Advocacy team to pursue legislation that benefits the business community in the areas of economic growth, local government and fiscal policy, and education and workforce development.

In his first two years as president, the Chamber released the “Invest in Indianapolis Phase II” report, which put forward a series of specific recommendations to enhance long-term financial planning for local government and improve the overall quality of life in Indianapolis. The report led to the creation of the High Performance Government Team by the City of Indianapolis. In an effort to increase the number of high school graduates in Marion County, the Chamber launched Common Goal, a community-wide initiative to raise Marion County’s graduation rate from 70 percent to 80 percent by 2011.  In addition, Dorson was instrumental in the creation of the Hispanic Business Council, resulting from the merger between the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and the Indianapolis Hispanic Chamber.

Dorson serves on a number of community boards including: United Way of Central Indiana, Urban League, Center for Leadership Development, Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, Indiana Legal Foundation, Skyline Club, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership, Indianapolis Economic Development, Inc. and University of Indianapolis Board of Trustees. Dorson hosted a local radio show, "Inside the Chamber," for four years.

Dorson was selected for the Anthem-sponsored Diversity Leadership Academy in 2004 and received the Diversity Advocate award from the Asian American Alliance in 2002. He is a graduate of both the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management at the University of Notre Dame. Dorson also participated in the Jewish Federation Young Leadership Program that culminated in a trip to Israel.

Prior to joining the Chamber, Dorson served as vice president of the Indiana Retail Council, merchandise program development manager for a major Indianapolis retailer, media director and caucus assistant in the Indiana State Senate and press secretary for a gubernatorial campaign.

A native of Bloomington, Indiana, Dorson is a graduate of Indiana University. He has begun work toward a master’s degree at the Christian Theological Seminary.
Dorson is married to Patti Freeman Dorson, an attorney in private practice, and has two sons, Ben and Daniel.

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