The Dallas Regional Chamber--formerly known as the Dallas Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce—is a chamber of commerce

Chamber of commerce

A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...

 that represents businesses and institutions in North Texas

North Texas

North Texas is a distinct cultural and geographic area forming the central-northeastern section of the U.S. state of Texas. North Texas is generally considered to include the area south of Oklahoma, east of Abilene, and north of Waco...

, including the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area. The Dallas Regional Chamber was founded in 1909, the combination of three smaller organizations—the Commercial Club (founded in 1893), the 150,000 Club and the Freight Bureau—and the Dallas Board of Trade, established in 1874.

The Dallas Regional Chamber is supported by roughly 3,000 businesses and organizations across twelve counties, and its members represent nearly 600,000 area employees. The chamber's mission statement:
The chamber is led by a board of roughly 70 CEOs. In 2010, the Chairman of the Board is David Corrigan, President and CEO of Corrigan Investments; the Chairman-elect for 2011 is Mike Baggett, Chairman Emeritus of Winstead PC

Winstead PC

Winstead PC is a national corporate law firm with offices in Texas and Washington, D.C. In 2010 the National Law Journal listed Winstead PC among the 250 largest law firms in the United States with 270 attorneys...

. Former United States Ambassador James C. Oberwetter

James C. Oberwetter

James C. Oberwetter was U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. He previously served as Press Secretary for then-congressman George H.W. Bush...

 has served as president of the Dallas Regional Chamber since February, 2009.

Recent notable speakers before the Dallas Regional Chamber include Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke

Ben Bernanke

Ben Shalom Bernanke is an American economist, and the current Chairman of the Federal Reserve, the central bank of the United States. During his tenure as Chairman, Bernanke has overseen the response of the Federal Reserve to late-2000s financial crisis....

, Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...

 CEO Steve Ballmer

Steve Ballmer

Steven Anthony "Steve" Ballmer is an American business magnate. He is the chief executive officer of Microsoft, having held that post since January 2000. , his personal wealth is estimated at US$13.9 billion, ranking number 19 on the Forbes 400.-Early life:Ballmer was born in Detroit, Michigan to...

, former United States Secretary of State

United States Secretary of State

The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...

 James Baker

James Baker

James Addison Baker, III is an American attorney, politician and political advisor.Baker served as the Chief of Staff in President Ronald Reagan's first administration and in the final year of the administration of President George H. W. Bush...

, and Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert

Tom Leppert

Tom Leppert is an American politician who served as mayor of Dallas, Texas from 2007 to 2011, and who worked as CEO of the Turner Corporation...

.