The Richmond Hill-Bryan County Chamber of Commerce has appointed longtime local businessman John Reynolds as the new president of its board of directors.

Reynolds, who owns and operates RPI Roofing in Richmond Hill, will serve a two-year term as board president. He has been a chamber board member for the past four years.

"I got involved with the chamber in 2007," said Reynolds. "I really wanted to get to know the local business people in the community and find out what makes Richmond Hill tick, so I joined."

Reynolds graduated from Georgia Southern University with a bachelor's degree in business with an emphasis in management. He believes his education and experience as a business owner will prove beneficial to the chamber and the community.

"Business is my passion, and my focus is going to be on promoting local businesses and helping them to be successful," said Reynolds. "I want to meet every chamber member face-to-face and have a conversation about their needs."

As the new board president, Reynolds said he has big goals for Richmond Hill and the 293 members of the chamber.

"Our area has got a tremendous opportunity to be an epicenter for economic development and expansion. I've been in this community for nearly 20 years, and I think Richmond Hill has really come a long way since then," he said. "Now, the chamber has an opportunity to shape how Richmond Hill will look in another 20 years."

Reynolds said his primary objective as president will be to foster communication between business and government at the local level.

"I would really like to see the chamber take a big step forward in bringing together the leadership in city council, the county commission, the homebuilders association, the school board, the convention and visitors bureau, the development authority and the chamber," said Reynolds. "We've got to work together toward a shared vision if we all want to be successful."

In addition to his business and the chamber, Reynolds devotes much of his time to his family and indulging his outdoor hobbies. He is married to his college sweetheart, Marci, and the couple has three sons.

"I don't really have much free time," he said. "But what time I don't spend working or with my family I spend golfing, hunting or fishing. I'm a person who very much enjoys living in the moment."