Turlock Chamber names Moss new leader

Karin Moss will lead the Turlock Chamber of Commerce forward as it emerges from a difficult transitional year.

The Chamber announced Moss’ selection as the permanent CEO/President Tuesday evening. Moss moved to Modesto in May and was selected after an intensive national search with a pool of over 20 candidates.

She brings 30 years of experience in corporate and nonprofit association leadership. Her work has been cited for excellence by both national and international associations and she has been a regularly featured speaker at seminars and conferences including Business Retention Expansion International, the International Downtown Association, League of California Cities, International Association of Fairs and Expositions, and the Governors Conference on Tourism.

She has provided executive direction to economic development and downtown revitalization programs in several cities throughout California as well as to the National Main Street Center in Washington, D.C. Moss was a Board Member of the Kings Mountain (NC) Downtown Association, City of Gastonia’s Reinvestment for Community Program and the Blue Ridge Parkway Association.

As Campaign Director of Census 2000 in the Central Valley, she was honored for having one of the highest response rates in the United States due to her multi-ethnic marketing campaigns.

Her vision is to promote “urban business in a rural setting,” the Chamber announcement said, and looks at her new Turlock post as an opportunity to spearhead many changes the board has directed as well as developing membership-focused programs.

“The Board unanimously agreed that Karin’s breadth of experience and expertise are an excellent fit for us as we expand our membership and establish sound working relationships within the community, the City and our local businesses. We’re delighted to welcome Karin to our staff as the new CEO,” Chairman of the Board, Lazar Piro.

Moss takes over for interim leader Paul Wright, a former Turlock Chamber figure who stepped in on a part-time basis following the August retirement of Sharon Silva after 17 years as Chamber CEO.

Wright oversaw a makeover of the Chamber’s financial procedures and reached a settlement with the city of Turlock over the Chamber’s handling of the Turlock Convention and Visitors Bureau contract it filled for more than two decades.

An outside auditor found $340,820 in missing documentation and questioned expenditures from 2009 until the city ended the contract on May 3. The settlement requires the chamber to pay the city $675 a month and grant it free membership for 25 years, adding up to $250,300 using this year's annual membership fee of $1,912.

This story was originally published March 15, 2016 at 5:28 PM with the headline "Turlock Chamber names Moss new leader."