Chamber Appoints Shawn Carns as President/CEOLeavenworth, KS, May 18th, 2026. The Leavenworth – Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce announced today the appointment of Shawn Carns as its’ next President and CEO. A highly respected leader within the United States Army, Carns brings executive leadership, strategic vision, proven collaboration, and the ability to build relationships across multiple types of business and community organizations.Shawn F. Carns is an inspirational executive leader and strategic visionary serving as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Leavenworth/Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce. Bringing over three decades of experience driving operational excellence and leading complex organizations, Shawn champions a leadership philosophy centered on "Influence over Command"—prioritizing strategic purpose, empathy, and collaborative partnerships to cultivate sustainable community and economic growth. Throughout his distinguished 34-year career as an enterprise-level executive in the United States military, he specialized in cultural transformation, cross-functional collaboration, and turning high-level organizational strategies into localized, impactful success. An expert in navigating ambiguity and directing large-scale operations, Shawn has served as the senior executive director for multiple premier global organizations, driving workforce integration and alignment across expansive geographic landscapes. Most recently, as a Senior Executive Leader for the Combined Arms Command at Fort Leavenworth, he spearheaded enterprise-level training, professional development frameworks, and organizational learning modernizations. His extensive leadership background includes managing multi-site networks and cross-functional stakeholder groups within I Corps and international joint task forces, proving his unique ability to bridge the gap between public, private, and civic sectors to achieve unified regional goals. At his core, Shawn is deeply passionate about human capital optimization, leveraging his extensive background in executive coaching and talent development to build highperforming, resilient teams. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Leadership and Management from Trident University, complemented by an advanced executive education portfolio focusing on enterprise governance, macro-level organizational health, and strategic communication. Recognized with top executive honors, including the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Legion of Merit, Shawn is a proud local resident who lives in the Leavenworth County area with his wife, Theresa, and their family, fully dedicated to driving regional progress and shared prosperity. Shawn will assume the role on September 1st, 2026. About The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1916 and headquartered in Leavenworth, KS, serves over 260 members within the local communities. It represents a unique partnership with business, civic and educational leaders in the Leavenworth-Lansing area, Leavenworth County and the Kansas City Metro. The goal of the partnership is to transform our area into a premier community where businesses thrive, entrepreneurship is fostered, and families are raised. For more information, visit https://www.llchamber.com/. Submitted: 05/19/26 Article By: Leavenworth Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce |