The Keizer Chamber of Commerce has parted ways with its executive director, staying mum in public about the reasons behind the change.
Corri Johnson said she was told on Friday, June 27, that she was “no longer a good fit” for the business organization.
The change comes as the organization faces financial challenges. Chamber operations lost money in 2023 and 2024, according to federal tax returns.
Johnson has worked for the chamber since February 2020, first as an executive assistant and then as executive director. She succeeded Danielle Bethell, now a Marion County commissioner and who was executive director from 2016 until 2020.
Jeremy Turner, a Keizer businessman who is chamber president, notified the organization’s members of the leadership change in an email on Friday, June 27.
Turner subsequently declined to elaborate.
“I cannot and will not comment on the details of a personnel matter,” Turner said in an email on Tuesday, July 1.
“We have dedicated board members who have stepped up,” Turner said. “We are planning to bring in an interim executive director to help lead the search for a new permanent leader.”
Johnson said she was told by Turner and other chamber board members on June 27 that she was being released from her contract. That was one day after she returned from a two-week medical leave, she said.
“I am grateful they set me up with a pretty decent severance package,” Johnson said. “I am taking a little bit of time to be sure I fully recover” from her recent surgery.
Turner declined comment on the severance package.
Johnson said she’s not sure what is ahead except public service. She was elected in May to the board of the Keizer Fire District and will be sworn in on Wednesday, July 16.
“I am still super passionate about Keizer,” Johnson said. “I encourage people to make sure they live their truth and stick to what they believe in.”
According to the Keizer Heritage Museum, the Keizer chamber traces its roots to the Keizer Commercial Club, formed in 1949. That evolved into the Keizer Merchants Association in 1959 and the name changed to Keizer Chamber of Commerce in 1987.
The organization promotes local businesses with monthly functions and also promotes tourism. The organization orchestrates the annual KeizerFEST and also hosts the annual banquet to cite Keizer’s First Citizen and other honors.
“We bring hope to families in need, connect visitors to enjoyable experiences, advocate for legislation that prioritizes the local owners and employees, and we have a lot of fun doing it,” the group says on its website.
The organization’s most recent tax return, dated last November and publicly available, shows the group in the red. For the most recent tax year, the chamber reported revenue of $354,570. That came from membership dues ($124,187), events ($110,970) fundraising ($105,953).
Expenses last year exceeded income and the chamber showed a loss of $32,829. The year before, the loss was listed as $13,443 with more total revenue – $400,436.
The city is subsidizing the chamber. In the budget year that ended on June 30, the city gave the chamber $40,000. In the current year, the chamber is in the city budget for $51,300, which includes the city’s own membership. The money otherwise is to be used to promote tourist visits to Keizer.
Turner and Jonathan Thompson, chamber treasurer, didn’t respond to written questions about the organization’s finances.
NEWS TIP? Send your suggestion or tip to [email protected].
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR DIGITAL NEWS SERVICE: Get around-the-clock access to news about Keizer with a digital subscription to the Keizertimes. It’s secure, is available at $10 a month, and takes just a moment when you go HERE. Your support for local journalism is vital.
