The roots of the Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce reach back some eighty years. In 1921, Cocoa, Rockledge, and Merritt Island began separate Chambers of Commerce. In 1925, Cocoa Beach opened its Chamber. These small Chambers worked hard for the good of their municipalities and helped build a positive foundation for the businesses in the area. However, community visionaries recognized that a consolidated organization would have a stronger and more effective voice. In 1967, a committee from each of the Chambers formed. Through most of 1968, these committees met to lay the ground rules of a combined Chamber. On September 1, 1968, the Cocoa-Rockledge Chamber, the Merritt Island Chamber, and the Cape Kennedy Chamber joined together to form the Cape Kennedy Area Chamber of Commerce, with Dudley Jewell as the first Executive Director. The first Chairman of the Board, in 1968, was Tommy Alston. He also repeated as Chairman in 1975. Tommy still closely follows the Chamber’s activities and is President of Alston Properties, Inc., in Merritt Island. The list of past chairpersons reads like a “who’s who” of past and current business and community leaders. Today, at the Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce, we represent over 1,500 partners – a strong voice for the important issues facing our area. We are concerned about responsible growth, seeking a legislative and economic climate that encourages business development and creates job opportunities. Working together, we look forward with optimism to a future of peace and prosperity for our area and nation.