The Wilmington Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors elected first vice-chair John Gizdic as chairman of the board for 2018, chamber officials said in a news release. 

Gizdic has succeeded 2017 Chairman Charlie Mattox (BB&T), who will continue to serve as immediate past chairman, officials said. 

Gizdic joined New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC) in 2005 as vice resident of Strategic Planning and Business Development. He assumed the title of COO in 2013. He became NHRMC President in 2016 and officially became CEO in 2017.

Before joining NHRMC, he worked 14 years in various roles within Carolinas Healthcare System, the last of which was vice president of operations at Carolinas HealthCare System - Blue Ridge in Morganton.

During his tenure, Gizdic led or directed several key initiatives, including creating the physician network that became NHRMC Physicians Group, leading Physician Quality Partners, facilitating numerous joint ventures in partnership with physicians and spearheading an organization-wide effort to improve efficiencies - leading to an $100 million operational improvement in four years.

Gizdic has been active in the community in various roles, including member of the Cape Fear Future Board, chairman of the N.C. Center for Affordable Health Care, member of the N.C. Hospital Association’s Policy Development Committee, 2016 Honorary Chairman of Relay for Life of Wilmington and chairman for the 2017 Cape Fear Heart Walk.
 
Gizdic has been joined on the Wilmington chamber leadership team by First Vice-Chair John Elliott (Duke Energy), Second Vice Chair Tee Nunnelee (Coastal Beverage Company), Treasurer Michele Holbrook (Corning), and Executive Committee at-large members Kimberly Bankston (GE Hitachi), Mitch Lamm (First Citizens), and Stephanie Lanier (Lanier Property Group). 
 
New members elected to the Wilmington Chamber board of directors for 2018 are Stella Black (Keller’s, Inc.) and Euran Daniels (Daniels Tours LLC).