Chamber names Sondra Howell as SVP of Workforce Development and Melody Freeman as Executive Director of Greater Memphis Local Workforce Development Board

MEMPHIS, TN – June 10, 2025 – The Greater Memphis Chamber today announced two key leadership appointments during its Mid-Year Chairman’s Forum, naming Sondra Howell as Senior Vice President of Workforce Development and Melody Freeman as Executive Director of the Greater Memphis Local Workforce Development Board. These strategic appointments underscore the Chamber’s commitment to strengthening Memphis’s talent pipeline and connecting residents with high-quality employment opportunities.

“As we continue to attract unprecedented investment and job creation to the Digital Delta, developing our local workforce remains a top priority,” said Ted Townsend, President and CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber. “Sondra and Melody bring exceptional experience and passion to these critical roles. Their leadership will be instrumental in ensuring Memphians are prepared for the thousands of new jobs being created across our region.”

Howell, who previously served as Vice President of Talent Innovation and Community Development for the Chamber and Interim Executive Director for the Greater Memphis Local Workforce Development Board, brings over 25 years of combined experience in workforce development, human resources, and community advocacy to her expanded role. A lifelong learner, she holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration, a Master’s in Adult Education, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.

“I am honored to take on this expanded role at such an exciting time for Memphis,” said Howell. “My passion has always been supporting individuals and families in reaching their personal self-sufficiency goals. I look forward to continuing this work by connecting our diverse talent pool with the incredible opportunities created across our region.”

Freeman is a native Memphian from Orange Mound, one of the nation’s earliest African American communities. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, which have laid the foundation for her decade-long career championing economic justice and creating pathways to prosperity at the intersection of education, equity, and workforce development.

“I’m thrilled to join the Greater Memphis Local Workforce Development Board at a time when our region stands at a crossroads of promise and potential,” said Freeman. “Memphis pride and heritage run through my veins, and I’m dedicated to weaving together the threads of business, education, and government to create a vibrant tapestry of opportunity. My focus is on helping our workforce turn their passions into purpose, ensuring that every talent shines in our region’s economy.”

“The appointment of Melody Freeman as Executive Director of the Greater Memphis Local Workforce Development Board, coupled with Sondra Howell’s transition from Interim Director to her expanded role at the Chamber, represents a powerful alignment of our workforce development ecosystem,” said Ben Adams, Chairman of the Greater Memphis Workforce Development Board. “Our Board oversees workforce services across Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, and Lauderdale counties, and Melody’s expertise in creating pathways to prosperity will be invaluable as we implement the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act initiatives.”

For more information about the Greater Memphis Chamber’s workforce development initiatives, please visit www.memphischamber.com.

About The Greater Memphis Chamber 

One of Memphis’ oldest institutions, dating back to 1838, the Greater Memphis Chamber is a privately funded nonprofit that serves as the region’s lead economic development organization and the “Voice of Memphis Business” on local, state, and national issues. The Chamber’s mission is to drive the Memphis business agenda for Greater Memphis. We do this by relentlessly pursuing prosperity for all — through economic and workforce development, pro-growth advocacy, and by providing support and resources to its investors, which include many of the region’s largest employers.