Richard E. Blouse, Jr., CCE, joined the Detroit Regional Chamber as president and CEO in December 1994.  Since that time, the Chamber has emerged as the voice of business in Southeast Michigan and has played a large role in important area initiatives, including regional transportation, passage of the stadium ballot proposal, border crossing safety and efficiency, and pro-business legislation saving billions of dollars.  Through the Detroit Regional Economic Partnership – a public/private sector partnership that markets the 10-county region around the world – Blouse is fulfilling the Chamber mission to retain and attract jobs and investment dollars to the region, and assist member firms in reaching national and international markets.  Under his leadership, the Chamber has entered into six partnerships with diverse business organizations around the region, and helped create the Business and Religious Leaders Group to address issues of importance to the community.  With over 18,000 members, the Detroit Regional Chamber is the largest chamber in the United States.  As president and CEO, Blouse reports to a 65-member board of directors and supervises six vice presidents and a staff of nearly 100.

Prior to joining the Chamber, Blouse was president and CEO of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce in Greenville, South Carolina.  He also was owner and president of the R.E. Blouse Group of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, an independent consultant serving the nonprofit, education, and small business markets in organizational consulting, training, planning, and group problem solving.  He was a partner in Greenville Associates Ltd., of Lancaster, a managerial consulting firm providing market and strategic planning, management assessment, organizational assessment and human resource development in eastern United States.  Previously, Blouse taught Chemistry and Science for five years and was co-owner of a camera shop in Hannover, Pennsylvania.

Blouse has served on the board of numerous professional and civic organizations, including the American Chamber of Commerce Executives, Arab-American and Chaldean Council Advisory Board, Greater Detroit and Windsor Japan-America Society, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute Board of Trustees, Wayne State University's Research & Technology Park Board, among others.

Blouse is a graduate of Millersville University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and a M.E.D. in Physical Science.  He is a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE).