The Federal Way Chamber of Commerce has hired Patti Mullen as its new CEO.

Since 2003, Mullen has been president and CEO of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. She will replace Tom Pierson, who left the Federal Way Chamber in June to head the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce.

Mullen will start her new job in January 2012. She believes the chamber of commerce plays a vital role as an economic catalyst in the community, from small to big business. Mullen also looks forward to learning more about the dynamics between Federal Way’s residents and businesses as well as the agendas of elected officials.

“A chamber is an incubator for leadership,” she said, noting the importance of the chamber as a networking hub during the recession. “People need a lot of support as they reshape how to do business.”

Mullen has led the 275-member West Seattle Chamber for the past eight years, and has no problem taking stances on political issues that affect the local business community. A recent example was last summer, when Mullen and the chamber supported a Seattle referendum that sought a tunnel at the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Among her proudest accomplishments in West Seattle was keeping that chamber open and accessible to all businesses — with an unofficial motto of “secret handshake not required,” she said. The chamber has been recognized by the Western Association of Chamber Executives for advocacy and networking opportunities in West Seattle, which has a population of about 103,000 (Federal Way’s population is about 89,300).

Born and raised in Tulsa, Okla., Mullen earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and studied graduate-level psychology at the University of Oklahoma. The Sooners fan moved to Seattle in 1983, and was soon introduced to Federal Way: Mullen worked as a marketing coordinator for a developer involved with the Sea-Tac Mall, now known as The Commons Mall.

With about 500 members, the Federal Way Chamber has several branch programs including Advancing Leadership, Communities in Schools of Federal Way, Safe City Federal Way and the South Sound Regional Business Incubator. The chamber’s monthly membership luncheon at Twin Lakes Golf and Country Club brings together many of Federal Way’s movers and shakers.