McClarty currently serves as the president and CEO of Howard County Chamber in Maryland, where he has been responsible for the strategic direction and growth of the organization since 2014. His specific duties largely centered around organizational leadership, fiscal management, marketing and program management, public policy, and community relations.

Prior to serving Howard County, McClarty was director of economic and community development for the City of York, Pa. where he was responsible for promoting the city to the private sector in efforts to foster economic investment and neighborhood redevelopment.

A native of the Atlanta area, McClarty served as president/CEO of DeKalb Chamber of Commerce for nearly 10 years.

A career chamber and economic development professional, McClarty has also worked for the City of Roswell, DeKalb County, and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Furman University and a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Clemson University.

He is a Certified Chamber of Commerce Executive (CCE) though the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), Certified Economic Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council (NDC), and a graduate of the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Organization Management (IOM). He is also a proud graduate of Leadership Atlanta, Class of 2009, according to chamber officials.

The chamber’s board of directors voted unanimously in favor of hiring McClarty. 

“McClarty is a strategic, big-picture thinker with deep experience advocating for businesses of all sizes. Leonardo brings extensive experience spanning the public, private, chamber, and economic development sectors to this role and has demonstrated that he has the vision and strategic focus to take the chamber to the next level and deliver on the mission of advocating for our members and our community,” said Jaimi Tapp, chair of the chamber board.

“We are pleased to have someone of Leonardo’s caliber to lead our chamber into the future. We welcome him and his family back to Georgia and to our community and feel that his leadership and passion for leading successful organizations, along with his high level of energy, will complement the chamber’s program of work and challenge us to aim higher. Leonardo is an experienced collaborator, consummate industry leader, and true professional,” stated Dr. Alvetta Thomas, chair of the chamber’s CEO search committee.

The chamber retained Anissa Starnes, IOM, chief impact officer with YGM, LLC to provide management and oversight for the national search, working with a committee of volunteers from the chamber’s membership. YGM specializes in executive searches for chambers of commerce.

As the chamber’s president and CEO, McClarty will oversee the staff and report to the chair of the executive committee of the chamber’s board of directors. The president and CEO is responsible for providing overall leadership and management to the membership, board, staff, and volunteers in executing the respective missions of the chamber organizations, along with financial management, marketing, membership development and fundraising, and overall office operations.

The president and CEO implements the annual business plan to meet the objectives of the approved strategic plan, noted chamber officials.

“I am truly honored to have the opportunity to lead the Fayette Chamber,” said McClarty. “I feel as if my entire career trajectory has led me to this position at the right time. The chamber’s work is vital to the business community and economic development, and I look forward to working with the chamber’s board, members, volunteers, and staff to grow the organization and to promote the community and ensure the livelihood of all local businesses in Fayette County.

“On a personal note, I am also looking forward to bringing my family back to Georgia to be closer to our family members and to reconnect with so many friends and colleagues across the state.”

McClarty said his first priority will be to actively engage with the chamber’s members to understand both their current and future needs and to meet as many people as possible to build the strong relationships needed to be successful as the leader of the chamber. He succeeds Colin Martin, who announced his departure in March to accept an external affairs management position with AT&T in Columbus.