Santa Rosa Metro Chamber CEO Jonathan Coe Announces Plan to Retire

Santa Rosa Metro Chamber President and CEO Jonathan Coe today announced he will step down from his leadership role on Oct. 1. Coe will continue working part-time at the Chamber through the end of the year, focusing on its Downtown Association program and facilitating the leadership transition.

Santa Rosa Metro Chamber Chief Operating Officer Debbie Gesualdo will serve as interim President and CEO until Coe’s permanent replacement is named.

Coe has led the Chamber since 2009. Before coming to Santa Rosa, he served for 10 years as president and general manager of the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce in Idaho.

“Over the past eight years, I have endeavored to serve the Chamber to the best of my abilities, and think the organization has made progress during that time. It is my hope that a new CEO will be able to bring his or her talents to this position and build on that progress.”

Coe’s leadership at the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber has been marked by significant accomplishments, including creation of the Santa Rosa Tourism Business Improvement Area (BIA) and the Visit Santa Rosa program. Coe played leading roles in reunifying Courthouse Square, bringing the Ironman event to Santa Rosa, and moving the chamber headquarters to Courthouse Square. He assisted in recruiting three new airlines to Sonoma County, established annual summits for chambers of commerce in the region, led the implementation of local candidate endorsements by the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber, and oversaw creation of the organization’s new name and brand identity.

“The business community in Santa Rosa and across Sonoma County has benefited from Jonathan’s skill in building partnerships that foster healthy economic development, generate jobs and promote business success,” said Judy James, chair of the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber board of directors. “Thanks to his leadership, the Chamber is strategically positioned for contributions to regional economic prosperity and continued recognition as the leading voice of business in the Santa Rosa metropolitan area.”

The Chamber has begun the process to identify a new President and CEO. As it did in selecting Coe to succeed the late Mike Hauser as president and CEO, the Chamber will search locally as well as nationwide to select a new leader.