Carmel, Fishers chambers merge

The Carmel and Fishers chambers of commerce are merging.

Board members of both groups have voted on the merger and will call the new organization OneZone.

The boards agreed that a unified approach to business promotion and advocacy makes sense, according to a news release.

"Informal conversations about potential mergers have been taking place for decades, and last year the boards of the Carmel and Fishers chambers took those conversations to a higher level," said Dan LaReau, St. Vincent Carmel Hospital executive director of operations and information who will serve as OneZone's inaugural board chair. He also was chair-elect of the Fishers Chamber of Commerce.

"As organizations that focus on the economic success of our members, we recognized that we can increase member opportunities through a combined effort," said LaReau.

OneZone's 25-member board will include all board members from both chambers. Merhoff, Carmel Chamber president, will serve as OneZone president, and Dan Canan, Fishers Chamber president and CEO, as executive vice president.

Members from both chambers still need to ratify the merger. Voting will take place Feb. 20, 7:30 to 9 a.m. at The Mansion at Oak Hill, 5801 E. 116th St., Carmel and at FORUM Conference Center, 11313 USA Parkway, Fishers.

With the merger, OneZone will have about 1,200 members that range from large companies, hospitals and banks to small businesses such as retail shops, hair salons and restaurants.

Call Star reporter Leisa Richardson at (317) 444-6378. Follow her on Twitter: @leisarichardson.