Leadership · Lemon Grove Chamber of Commerce & Foundation

President & CEO

Office of the President

Portland D. Bates, MPA

President & CEO, Lemon Grove Chamber of Commerce & Foundation

Portland D. Bates founded and leads the Lemon Grove Chamber of Commerce & Foundation with a conviction that has guided his entire career: communities grow strongest when their businesses, institutions, and neighbors build for the long term — for generations, not quarters.

As President & CEO, he sets the Chamber's strategic direction — championing local business, advocating for a healthy business climate, and forging the partnerships that turn a Main Street into a movement. His focus is on enduring, principal-aligned relationships: connecting Lemon Grove's small-business owners, civic leaders, and community partners around a shared, long-term vision in which every storefront and every family has a stake in the town's success.

Under his leadership, the Chamber brings business owners together, welcomes new ventures putting down roots, and maintains the directory that helps residents keep their dollars close to home. Alongside the separately governed Lemon Grove Chamber Foundation, he helps advance the scholarships, civic programs, and community reinvestment that make Lemon Grove a brighter place to live and to do business.

“We measure success not in a single deal, but in the strength of the partnerships and the communities we leave stronger than we found them.”

— Portland D. Bates, MPA · President & CEO

✉ pbates@lemongrovechamber.org ✆ (619) 888-9622

Leadership Team

Meet our team

Working across both the Chamber and the Foundation to serve Lemon Grove.

Chamber & Foundation

Jace Comick

Community Synergy Director (CSD)

The Lemon Grove Chamber is proud to introduce our Community Synergy Director, Jace Comick. The CSD role uses a deliberate pairing of local commerce and youth development to close systemic gaps — including healthcare access — across our community.

Jace directs and manages the Foundation's two inaugural flagship programs: Synergy30: The Executive Accelerator, a dual-phase accelerator for young founders under 30; and The Mutual Business Alliance, a shared-resource network built to give independent business owners across Lemon Grove the collective bargaining power of a major corporation.

Key Accolades & Leadership Highlights

NCAA First Team All-American (Texas A&M): recognized for top-tier national performance and elite execution under high-stakes pressure.
SEC Conference Competitor & Collegiate Honors: a proven track record of institutional discipline, continuous performance optimization, and cross-functional leadership.
Enterprise Systems & Transmedia Integration: directed scalable AI automation pipelines, data architectures, and tech-enabled infrastructure strategies for commercial assets and public-private ventures.

Explore the Programs

Governance

Two organizations, governed separately

The Chamber and the Foundation are distinct legal entities, each with its own leadership and finances, working side by side for Lemon Grove.

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Lemon Grove Chamber of Commerce

Led by President & CEO Portland D. Bates, MPA, and governed by its own board of directors. Advocates for local business, hosts community and networking events, and maintains the business directory.

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Lemon Grove Chamber Foundation

A separate charitable organization with its own board of directors and finances. Community Synergy Director Jace Comick serves across both the Foundation and the Chamber; additional Foundation board members will be announced soon.

Grow with the Chamber

Join a community of local businesses building Lemon Grove's future — together.

Join the Chamber Contact the President's Office