Dear SLO Chamber Members,
At the end of this year, I will be stepping down from my role as President/CEO of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber will be launching a nationwide search to find a successor for my role, as I will be running for a seat on the SLO County Board of Supervisors.
June McIvor, Chair of the SLO Chamber Board of Directors, announced the news to the community this morning at Good Morning SLO. “The Chamber has always encouraged community members to run for office, as this sort of civic engagement is essential to our democracy and thriving community,” she said. “Jim has encouraged many people with business backgrounds to run for office throughout his time with the Chamber, and now he is walking the talk.”
The Board is working hard to make sure this transition is as smooth as possible, and I’m here to support them every step of the way. The Chamber has a great team of staff and volunteers, and I know I’m leaving the organization in great hands.
The Board of Directors and I have agreed to a formal transition plan outlining the work that I’ll continue to do over the next six months, while also limiting much of my public advocacy work to other Chamber staff members so that there is no conflict with Chamber policies. For example, I will no longer represent the Chamber at major events, so I won’t emcee Good Morning SLO moving forward. Other staff and board members will represent the Chamber at hearings before City Council, County Board of Supervisors and other governmental agencies.
The Board is in the process of forming a search committee to identify my successor as CEO, with the goal of completing the search by year’s end. Hillary Trout, CFO at iFixit and previous SLO Chamber Board Member of four years and Board Chair in 2020, will chair this search committee. Hillary brings a deep care for the local business community and work the Chamber does. “We appreciate Jim giving us this long ramp of lead time, which will ensure a smooth transition,” said Trout. “The Chamber has a terrific professional staff and a committed Board of Directors, and we are confident that our members will continue to receive the same high level of service they always have.”
As we move through this transition, I’m incredibly excited for the future of this organization. We’re working on the newest iteration of our Economic Vision, which will pave the way for the work the Chamber is doing to grow and strengthen our community. This will put the Chamber in a key position for the next CEO to hit the ground running and continue to connect the business community with ideas, inspiration and each other, bringing people together to shape the place we love.
With gratitude,
For more information, please reach out to Hollie at [email protected] or (805) 786-2777, or check out our Frequently Asked Questions.