Chamber creates new executive role

Photo provided by Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce

Jen Johnson is promoted to chief of staff.

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce promoted a longtime staff member to a newly created executive role.

Jen Johnson, a chamber employee since 2004 who most recently served as manager of investor engagement, has been named the first chief of staff for the organization, according to a news release.

Chamber spokesman Jeremy Elwood said the promotion makes Johnson a member of the organization’s executive leadership team. He provided an organizational chart showing Johnson is now the sixth member of the cabinet supporting chamber President Matt Morrow.

“To take our member service to the next level while pursuing multiple, increasingly complex strategic initiatives, it’s crucial that we have one person focused on shepherding organization-wide projects and priorities successfully to completion as they arise,” Morrow said in the release. “Jen is a strategic thinker and a consensus-building problem solver.

“I have absolute confidence in her ability to find innovative solutions for any issue that could come up in the future.”

As chief of staff, Johnson serves as senior adviser to Morrow and assumes day-to-day responsibility for the progress of priority projects; leads strategic planning and internal communications processes; serves as liaison between the chamber and its strategic partners; and advocates for critical issues, according to the release.

Johnson previously worked for the chamber’s economic development arm, the Springfield Business Development Corp. Her work has included management of the chamber’s annual Small Business Award; leadership of the team that implemented a new database and website; and investor relations efforts.