Gilmore, 34, was named CEO of the Wilsonville Chamber of Commerce by Doris Wehler, president of the board of directors.

Gilmore will resign his position as director of legislative affairs for the Chamber of Medford/Jackson County on May 20. He begins in Wilsonville on June 2.

The position is a first for both Gilmore and Wilsonville. It will be his first time leading a chamber; for Wilsonville, it’s a new designation.

“He was the unanimous choice of the search committee,” said Wehler, who also explained the new title. “Seven out of nine surrounding chambers use CEO rather than executive director. There’s no difference in the duties, but sometimes it’s easier to access corporate executives with that title.”

Gilmore said he’s always had his eye on Wilsonville. Other chamber positions opened up around the state, but he chose not to apply for them. Then he saw the opening in Wilsonville.

“I took a real hard look at it,” he said. “It was the only position that I had applied for, in terms of jobs I looked at in the chamber world. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

Gilmore grew up in Milton-Freewater, where his father farmed 100 acres of alfalfa, cattle and u-pick strawberries and raspberries, as well as did contract work for other local hay farmers. His mother owned a restaurant and his father also had a full-time job.

“Growing up in that environment, the toil and hard work to be successful, I have a soft spot for business owners. It’s not easy owning a business,” he said. “I remember one winter, when I was about 10, having to pack in water to cattle in six feet high snow. It was literally higher than I was. They were stuck out in the field. There were a lot of early mornings and late nights in the hayfields too.”

He now appreciates the hard work and his parents’ efforts.

“I come from good stock,” he said. “I come from a place where your word means everything. Growing up in a rural area, you lived with your word and a handshake. I still live by that way now. If you give me your word, I’m going to assume it’s the straight scoop.”

Gilmore earned a bachelor of science degree in history with a minor in political science from Eastern Oregon University.

After graduating, he took a job with Clackamas County state representative Jane Lokan, working on her ‘96 campaign. When that ended, he was hired by Greg Walden in the Medford office. He worked for Walden for more than seven years.

Two years ago, Gilmore joined the Medford chamber.

“I just really love chamber work,” he said. “It’s so very important what chambers do. There are many things that happen in a community, and people think they ‘just happen,’ but sometimes there’s a background story. For a business community to be successful, it has to be livable. That’s where I think chambers are at their best.”

When a chamber interacts with public entities, it has to be able to stand up for its members, he said.

“It takes a lot of good communication.”

Wehler said Gilmore was a very likable person whom the committee felt could appeal to both small and large businesses.

“I think he is smart, he is conciliatory, he is objective, and he has had experience working with a board of directors,” she said. “Another point in his favor is that he has completed two years of the U.S. Chamber for Organizational Management.”

The search committee liked Gilmore’s legislative experience and felt that he could quickly bring himself up to speed on Wilsonville’s issues.

“He understands what the needs are at the government level,” Wehler said.

While not entirely familiar with Wilsonville’s specific issues, he knows that transportation funding is something affecting every business community in the state.

“If you talk to businesses, particularly ones with trucking, or that have trucks bringing in products, the number one issue is not getting the products in or out on time,” he said. “Most of it has to do with the lack of infrastructure. We’ve allowed much to go by the wayside. I know the Wilsonville chamber, like everywhere, is concerned about that.”

The other big issue affecting businesses statewide, he said, is the ability to pay for health care for employees.

“We told Steve that Wilsonville is on the forefront of a lot of things that are happening in the metro area,” Wehler said. “We’re a growing city, constantly dealing with issues that affect business in this community. We talked about our relationship with the city in as much as helping businesses understand the city’s proposal for various taxes or regulatory measures affecting businesses.”

One of the biggest, she said, is the payroll tax increase to help pay for the commuter rail project.

Some of Gilmore’s duties will be supervising the chamber’s overall program of work, coordinating all committees, enforcing policies set by the board, supervising chamber and visitor’s center personnel, membership and communication and forming alliances with the public.

He will report directly to president of the chamber board.

Gilmore said he is impressed with the city’s beauty and its people. He will be moving here with his wife Mindy and their 9-month-old daughter Reagan. They plan to live in the city, join the Rotary and be a part of local activities. His wife is a nurse.