Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC appoints Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer as new president & CEO
Today, the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC announced Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer as its new president and chief executive officer. Reeder Kleymeyer brings with her more than 25 years of highly collaborative, results-oriented executive leadership in the fast-paced economic and community development industry spanning Fortune 500 companies, non-profit organizations, and her own consulting practice. She will join Dirk Draper, the Chamber & EDC’s current president & CEO, on Nov. 29 to ensure a smooth transition before his retirement. Reeder Kleymeyer will take the helm on Jan. 1, 2022.
“Johnna’s successful business track record, wide experience in economic development, and infectious high energy will take our Chamber & EDC to the next level. Most importantly, she is deeply aligned with our mission to create economic prosperity for all in Colorado Springs and surrounding regions.” – Mike Juran, Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC Board Chair, and CEO of Altia.
Reeder Kleymeyer will provide leadership for the largest chamber of commerce and economic development corporation in southern Colorado. As the nation is rebounding from COVID-19, the Chamber & EDC’s No. 1 goal is to engage in programs and policies that accelerate businesses’ recovery from the pandemic.
“I am honored to lead and develop my new team for optimal execution as we implement the Board of Directors’ strategic priorities. I look forward to collaborating in the community and helping businesses in the Pikes Peak region achieve their development goals. My husband and I look forward to joining the Colorado Springs community.” – Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer
Reeder Kleymeyer will leverage the foundation built by Dirk Draper, who announced his retirement as president and CEO in May of this year. The Chamber & EDC’s accomplishments, financial strength, and reputation grew significantly under Draper’s leadership of seven years.
Most recently, Reeder Kleymeyer founded JRK Executive Strategies, her own consulting practice, to serve as a short-term executive to advise business and non-profit leaders in identifying their strategies for success, managing organizational change, structuring accountability metrics, and developing high-performing teams.
In 2014, she was named the founding chief executive officer for the Regional Economic Development Initiative of Cincinnati (REDI), where she mobilized stakeholders to realize Greater Cincinnati’s full potential by bringing new jobs and capital investment into the communities that are part of the three state, 15-county region. She was the architect of its regional collaboration model, targeted attraction strategy, and developed and empowered a talented team that always played big on behalf of the organization’s investors.
Under Reeder Kleymeyer’s leadership, REDI Cincinnati became a nationally recognized leader in the practice of economic development, including repeated annual rankings in the Mac Conway Award for Organizational Excellence in Economic Development and the Governor’s Cup for top producing regions for jobs and capital investment by Site Selection magazine.
For most of Reeder Kleymeyer’s career, she has dedicated herself to assisting communities in achieving their development priorities while helping companies thrive. Prior to REDI Cincinnati, she was Vice President of Community Relations and Economic Development for Duke Energy, Ohio, and Kentucky and led community relations, government affairs and foundation giving for Citigroup Inc. in Kentucky. Early in her career, she directed a chamber of commerce and downtown development corporation in Tennessee.
Reeder Kleymeyer holds a Master of Business Administration from Thomas More University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from the University of Memphis. She is a graduate of the Oklahoma University Economic Development Institute.
The Chamber & EDC retained Jorgenson Consulting, a renowned executive search firm with extensive experience working with chambers of commerce and economic development organizations, to lead the search. Todd Jorgenson, managing director and principal at Jorgenson Consulting, guided the Chamber & EDC’s Board of Directors’ Search Committee, led by Tim Seibert, secretary of the Chamber & EDC’s Executive Committee and senior vice president of Norwood Development Group, throughout the process and procured an impressive pool of local and national candidates to put forward for consideration.
Media are invited to join Reeder Kleymeyer for a press briefing on Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. at the Chamber & EDC offices. Additional information will be sent in the coming days.
About the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC
Serving as the area’s largest chamber of commerce and economic development organization, the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC works to build and maintain a superior business climate in which companies of all kinds can thrive. It supports current and future local businesses to fuel a diverse economy and high quality of life. Learn more at www.ColoradoSpringsChamberEDC.com