Rex Oliver, Long-time Chamber President & CEO, Passes Away
It’s with a heavy heart that we share the news that
Rex Oliver
, President & CEO of the Bainbridge Island Chamber, passed away last week following a courageous bout with pancreatic cancer. Rex had been the Chamber’s top executive since 2012. Prior to that ,
he was the President/CEO of the Murrieta California Chamber, a position he held for 10 years.
“
His energy, knowledge and certainly his commitment to our profession will be greatly missed
,” said Bob Green CEO of the Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives (WCCE), of which Oliver was a long-time board member.
Besides improving membership benefits and overseeing the annual Grand Old Fourth of July event during his eight year tenure, Oliver was instrumental in helping form Visit Bainbridge, the island tourism arm, and established the Chamber as venue for fishermen and hunters to purchase seasonal licenses. The service complemented the Chamber’s long-time State Department of Licensing Sub-agency.
Over the years, Oliver worked on a number of initiatives germane to the business community. These included the Downtown Winslow Town Square proposal, parking issues, zoning and tourism.
In the summer of 2013, he led the Chamber in creating and operating the “Frog Hopper Bus” pilot project to demonstrate the market for daytime island transportation for residents and visitors. Its success prompted Kitsap Transit to begin the more expanded BI Ride service.
“He was a genuinely nice guy,” said Linda Lincoln, past chair of the Chamber Board of Directors. “Rex was able to move across conflict and get to resolution to the point of moving (an issue) forward. He was a real consensus builder.”
Lincoln, manager of the HomeStreet Bank branch on the island, credited Oliver with creating successful partnerships between the Chamber and the City of Bainbridge Island and the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association.
“He was professional and really knew what needed to be done,” she said. In addition, Lincoln said Oliver was great at educating the board “as to what their roles were,” and had a very “calm” disposition, which she said was crucial in his role.
“I loved the guy so much,” she added. “He will be missed.”
Oliver was very active in the Bainbridge Island Rotary Club and always looked forward to the annual Rotary Auction, where he usually headed up the music department. He was a drummer and once bought himself a drum kit at the auction.
The former Chamber executive is survived by his wife, Cheryl, and two adult children who reside in Canada. A memorial service in Oliver’s honor will be held at a future date to be announced.
Rex was an advocate for Chambers of Commerce and Rotary International. If you wish to send a memorial gift in honor of Rex, they may be made to either the Bainbridge Island Chamber or the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island.
Kevin Dwyer, interim President and CEO of the Chamber, will continue in that role for the immediate future.
