Bill Russell, the president and chief executive officer of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce, is a resident of Huntersville, NC. Bill attended Winthrop University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. He served as a marketing specialist for a commercial office furniture dealer for twelve years before entering the field of association management.

Bill serves on the Boards of Visit Lake Norman, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority Visitors Advisory Committee, United Way – Lake Norman, Hugh Torance House & Store, and the Cannon School Cannon Council. He is a past president of the Lake Norman Kiwanis Club and the Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. He is also a member of the North Mecklenburg Rotary Club. In 1996, he was recognized with the Order of the Palmetto, the highest honor bestowed upon a citizen in the State of South Carolina for his civic involvement. He is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Organizational Management and a Fellow with the N.C. Institute of Political Leadership. In 1992, Bill was president of the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees), the largest young people’s leadership training organizations in the country. This year, Bill received his Certified Chamber Executive designation by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. Less than 500 Chamber Executives have received this designation in the 40 year history of the program.

Bill was the first executive director of the Tri County Regional Chamber from August 1, 1993 until December 31, 1995.

He currently oversees the operation and management of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has approximately 1,100 members in the Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, and greater Lake Norman area.