A new chapter is beginning at the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce as Helen Propheter steps into the role of President & CEO! While the position may be new, Helen’s connection to the Chamber and Frederick County’s business community is anything but. From her roots in Frederick County to a career spanning economic development, higher education and community leadership, she brings both a deep understanding of the community and a strong vision for what comes next. We sat down with Helen to talk about the path that brought her here, her approach to leadership, her priorities for the first few months and what she sees ahead for the Chamber and Frederick County.
1. For members who may not know you yet, tell us a little about yourself and the path that brought you to the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce.
I’m really excited to be stepping into this role. Frederick County has been home for me for a long time, and this opportunity feels like coming full circle in my career.
I’m a proud Frederick County Public Schools graduate—I went to Frederick High School—and I attended Frederick Community College and Hood College before graduating from Mount St. Mary’s University. I started my career with Frederick County Government, working in Workforce Services and Economic Development, and later worked at Hood College in corporate and government relations.
Throughout my career, I’ve stayed closely connected to the Chamber. I was part of Leadership Frederick County, served as an Ambassador, served twice on the Chamber Board and on the Executive Committee, emceed events, helped lead portions of Leadership Frederick County, and helped create SHE Pitch. I was also part of the Downtown Hotel and Conference Center team, and in each of my previous roles, I found ways to partner with the Chamber.
So, in many ways, the Chamber has been a thread throughout my career. To now have the opportunity to lead this organization and serve the business community I care so much about is incredibly meaningful to me.
2. What are you most excited about as you step into the role of President & CEO?
I’m excited about the possibilities. Frederick County is growing and changing, and I think we have a real opportunity to make sure our business community is part of that conversation and that the Chamber is helping lead the way.
The Chamber is in a strong position, and I want to build on that momentum. I’m looking forward to listening to our members, understanding what they need, and making sure we continue to evolve as our community evolves.
For me, I’ll get started by doing three things: listen, collaborate and communicate, if we do those things well, I think we can make a meaningful start for our members and for Frederick County.
3. How would you describe your leadership style?
I value honest communication. I think people do their best work when they understand what is expected of them, feel comfortable sharing their ideas and know that their voice matters.
My goal is to sustain a high-functioning team with a culture of clarity and accountability, but also one where people feel empowered to lead. I don’t believe the CEO needs to have all the answers. Some of the best ideas come from simply creating the space for people to share what they see and what they know.
And when we make decisions, I want us to always come back to one question: What is best for our members and for the Frederick County business community?
4. What are your biggest short-term goals within your first 30–60 days?
My first priority is going to be listening. I want to spend time with our members, Partners in Trust, committees, staff and Board members and hear what they think is working well, where we have opportunities and what they need from the Chamber.
I’m particularly interested in hearing how people view their return on investment, what services and programs are most valuable to them, and where they would like to see us grow.
We also have some immediate priorities, including hiring a Director of Membership, developing our advocacy priorities and beginning to plan for the Chamber’s 115th anniversary in 2027.
I don’t want to come in with all the answers. I want to come in with a lot of questions, listen carefully and then help us move forward together.
5. What are your long-term goals for the organization, and what role do you believe the Chamber will play in the future of Frederick County over the next 10 years?
Our Board has already done some important work in establishing a framework for our long-term direction. That framework focuses on advocacy and public policy, business development and referrals, leadership development and civic engagement, data-driven thought leadership, creating a modern membership experience, and building strategic partnerships and cross-sector collaborations.
I see the Chamber playing a really important role as Frederick County continues to grow. We have the opportunity to be a convener—to bring businesses, government, education, nonprofits and community leaders together around the issues that matter.
I also think we have an opportunity to be a trusted voice for business. As the county grows and changes, we need to make sure the business community is not only part of the conversation but helping shape it.
There is much more to come on our long-term vision, and I’m looking forward to sharing that with our members in the near future.
6. What would make you feel like your first year as CEO was successful?
At the end of that first year, I’d want to look back and know that we strengthened our relationships with our members and that people felt more connected to the Chamber and to one another.
I’d like to see an engaged Board and membership, growth in both our membership and Partners in Trust, and a broader representation of industries within our membership. I also want us to take a thoughtful look at our programs and services and make sure we are delivering real value and creating sustainable revenue opportunities.
But beyond the numbers, I want people to feel that the Chamber is their organization—that we are listening to them, advocating for them and helping them succeed.
Our vision is to create a culture of innovation and collaboration for Frederick County’s business community. If, after my first year, we are doing that better and more intentionally than we are today, I’ll feel pretty good about where we’re headed.
Frederick Chamber Insights is a news outlet of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about membership, programs and initiatives, please visit our website.