Crocker becomes new chamber president

Jill Crocker has been voted to be the new president of the Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce. In October, then chamber president, Miranda Johnson, announced that she would be stepping down from the chamber in order to give her full attention to her duties as the Atlanta City Development Executive Director.

Crocker, who has already been working as Office Manager at the Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce since November 2020, will take over for Johnson. Jill was selected by a hiring committee made up of representatives of the Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Atlanta Hotel-Motel Tax Fund Advisory Committee.

Crocker brings an event planning, accounting, media, and business background to the chamber, along with other abilites that are bound to be a great asset. She has a degree in journalism and communication with a business minor. She has worked in radio and TV news in Monroe, LA, and radio news in St. Louis, Missouri. Crocker noted that she is a huge history buff and one of her highlights was interviewing three former U.S. presidents: George Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.

Originally from Calhoun, Louisiana (just outside of Monroe), Crocker moved to St. Louis for her husband to begin work with SLPD. She notes that it was a very tough time for several reasons: as a journalist; the wife of a cop; and the mother of two young children; along with living so far from family.

With her husband, Claude Crocker IV, having a call to the ministry, she moved again. This time to Georgia so he could go to Seminary, while she began work in promotional and event marketing with several marketing firms in Atlanta, Georgia. While in that field “I managed trade shows, events, car shows as well as in-store promotions,” says Crocker

“We started missing ‘home’ so we moved to Gray, Texas to be closer to my dad,” says Jill. “There I began work with Marshall Festivals Inc. in Marshall, Texas.”

“I was in charge of several events including the Wonderland of Lights during that time,” she says. “Marshall Festivals disbanded and so began my career in banking and moving to the Atlanta area. Then came COVID. As a stress reliever, I began to practice more and more yoga. It was great for my health and gave me time to talk to God. Through prayer, I opened my own business offering faithbased yoga.”

It was shortly after this, explained Jill, that “the chamber needed an office manager, and I was able to fill that need so I started on at the Chamber. I had already been on the board for a while, and since I love working with the community and just being involved and with my event, media, and accounting background the Chamber seemed like a good fit,” says Jill. “I have grown into the position and then some, assisting in all aspects of the AACOC functions.”

Crocker is excited about stepping into her new role. “I feel sorry for anyone that isn’t me! Simply because I have been given the opportunity to work with the finest business owners in the great state of Texas. Together we will grow our beloved City of Atlanta and the surrounding areas to be; not just a place to live and work, but a place to thrive. We have so many events for the community and opportunities for business owners including our upcoming lunch and learns, Chamber banquet, women’s luncheon, makers market, and more. I am excited and honored to serve the community as Chamber President.”