Modesto Chamber of Commerce has new top executive, the woman who did job on interim basis
The Modesto Chamber of Commerce has a new president and chief executive officer, and it’s the woman who has done the job on an interim basis for the past four months.
Chamber board Chairman Steve Rank announced in a Friday news release that Trish Christensen is the chamber’s new top executive.
“Trish is the right person at the right time ...,” Rank wrote in the release. “Our members look to the chamber to add value to their business and to enhance their profile in the community. Trish is a solid networker and convener of people, and we are confident she will provide the extra touch we need to connect with our members.”
Christensen has worked for the chamber as its events coordinator since March 2018. She stepped in as interim president and CEO this summer after the abrupt departure of then CEO-President Cindy Marks in August. She left after a couple of months on the job and for reasons that were in dispute. Marks had replaced longtime CEO-President Cecil Russell, who had retired.
The Bee reported that Marks’ departure came as the chamber was trying to rebuild its membership. It had 794 members as of June 30. That was down from 926 members in December 2015. Rank has said membership has declined since the Great Recession, though he has said that trend had reversed recently as part of a campaign to grow it.
The chamber has reported an annual budget of nearly $700,000.
Rank said in an interview Friday that one of Christensen’s primary responsibilities will be to increase membership. How many members the chamber currently has was not available.
Christensen said in the news release: “I’m honored to have been selected, and I look forward to settling in with our staff to do whatever is necessary to add value to members and grow the organization.”
She was not at the chamber Friday and could not immediately be reached for comment. The release said she is active in several local organizations, including the North Modesto Kiwanis, Boys and Girls Clubs, Family Justice Center and the American Cancer Society.
Rank said Christensen’s salary is $70,000. He said she was hired after an extensive recruitment that drew about 20 applicants.
