Sylvia Haines serves as the Chief Operations Officer of the Chamber. In that role, she manages the Finance, IT, Communications & Marketing, Membership, and Program Development departments. She also serves as the liaison with our affiliate organizations. Sylvia has been with the Chamber for 35 years. She currently serves on the board for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Executives and is a co-chair for both the LEAD Virginia Hampton Roads Alumni Committee and the LEAD Virginia Hampton Roads Curriculum Committee.
Sylvia is motivated by a standard of excellence and believes that we should all strive for excellence in both our professional and personal lives. With a role that has a wide range of responsibilities through the years, Sylvia has made it a priority to keep up with the latest trends and be ready to adapt at all times.
Sylvia was a member of the LEAD Hampton Roads Class of 2002 and the LEAD Virginia Class of 2018. In August 2012, she earned the Certified Chamber Executive designation from the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). CCEs exemplify commitment to the Chamber of Commerce profession, dedication to managerial and leadership excellence, and leadership in state, regional, and national chamber professional associations. In 2017, she was recognized as the Virginia Business CFO of the Year in the small nonprofit category and received the Inside Business 2017 Women in Business Achievement Award.
On a personal note, Sylvia thinks that Hampton Roads is a great place to live, work, and play. Her perfect day would be a quiet day on the beach.