In 1987, Pam Klahr left her job in banking to work for the Lancaster (Pa.) Chamber of Commerce. She oversaw rapid growth in that organization and went on to work as vice president of Marketing and Member Services for the American Chamber of Commerce Executives before becoming the president and CEO of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce in 2004. Since she took over, the membership has expanded, along with member services. Attendance at chamber events has increased by more than 300 percent. The chamber currently has about 670 members.