Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Chico Chamber Board Announces Katie Simmons as President and CEO

The Chico Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors announced this morning the appointment of Katie Simmons as the Chamber’s new President and CEO. Simmons has been serving as the Chamber’s Interim Director since December, 2011 when she took on the position after the resignation of former Chamber CEO Jolene Francis.


“I am honored that the Board of Directors has selected me to serve as the Chico Chamber’s new President and CEO,” said Simmons. “I look forward to continuing the important work the Chamber has done in serving and representing the needs of the business community, and to maintaining a strong voice in addressing local and statewide issues impacting our economic vitality.”

“Selecting the perfect fit for the Chamber CEO position was a critical decision for our Board,” said Roger Hart, the Chamber’s 2012 Board Chair. “Our interview and selection process was extremely thorough. From the very beginning, we wanted to be sure that whoever we selected for the position understood the new culture and vision of the organization.

While the recruitment process unveiled a number of qualified candidates, ultimately Katie’s non-profit management experience combined with her vision for and leadership of the Chamber over the last several months made her the perfect selection. We are confident she will bring her enthusiasm and expertise to the table as we continue to move the organization forward.”

Simmons brings more than a decade of non-profit management experience to the position, most recently as Executive Director of Chico Velo and, prior to that, as Executive Director of the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce. From 2001 to 2008 Simmons served in management positions at the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, headquartered in Berkeley, California, ultimately as their Director of Operations. Her experience working to define, develop and implement clear and creative strategic goals made her a prime candidate for the Chamber CEO position.

Simmons holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of California, San Diego. She will assume the role of President and CEO immediately. For questions or to schedule an interview, contact the Chamber at 530.891.5556

The Chico Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest, broad-based business advocacy organizations in Northern California. Its mission is to serve as the Voice of Business.

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