Chad Amond shared his passion for Westmoreland County at countless events, pushing for growth, collaboration and development in the place where he grew up, leading the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce for 11 years.
Amond died Monday after a battle with primary progressive aphasia, which forced him to step down from the role in 2022. He was 51.
Amond, a Derry Township native, lived in Unity with his wife of 27 years, Amy, and their four children.
“Chad built this Chamber. This will always be his Chamber,” said Dan DeBone, president and CEO of the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce. “He reached thousands of lives, elevated our business community and laid a foundation that continues to benefit Westmoreland County every single day.”
Amond was a high-profile community advocate as president and CEO of the Chamber starting in 2011. That often meant breakfasts, dinners, business meetings and speaking engagements to promote the region as one of Westmoreland County’s loudest cheerleaders.
Jim Smith, president and CEO of the Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland, recalled regular speaking engagements with Amond and Jason Rigone, executive director of the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp. and Department of Planning and Development.
“He was by far the best communicator among us,” Smith said.
The work started to get difficult though in more recent years. Amond was diagnosed in March 2020 with primary progressive aphasia, a rare form of dementia. That left him with memory troubles and issues at times finding words.
After the diagnosis, TribLive interviewed Amond and his family, who wanted to spread awareness about the illness, which has no cure. Even through those challenges, Amond continued to lead the Westmoreland Chamber, whose members number about 1,000, eventually with help. DeBone was appointed executive director in summer 2021.
The pair spent plenty of time together visiting the restaurants and businesses once DeBone was hired. Amond said then he planned to continue working as long as possible.
DeBone was named president and CEO in March 2022 upon Amond’s departure.
“We are honored and privileged to continue the work he started, to build upon his accomplishments and to move the Chamber forward in a way that reflects his vision, leadership and commitment to this community,” DeBone said.
Smith called Amond a dynamic speaker and presenter who sought to build a consensus as a highly respected leader.
“He will be greatly missed, but his contributions to this county and region will endure,” Smith said.
Amond previously served as president of the Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce and held marketing and communication positions at Forbes Hospital, the Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia 76ers. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award upon being inducted into the Derry Area School District Hall of Fame in 2025 and was honored by the Westmoreland County commissioners in 2021.
He served as a board member for community organizations including Westmoreland County Community College and the Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland.
During the TribLive interview in 2020, Amond said he wanted a way for researchers to launch more clinical trials to study potential treatments for primary progressive aphasia in hopes of helping others.
“Awareness,” he said, “to help people in the future get cured.”
Arrangements are being handled by Lopatich-Brinker Funeral Home in Latrobe. Visitation is 3-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, 601 Weldon St. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 331 Weldon St.