Santa Rosa Metro Chamber Announces CEO Departure

SANTA ROSA, CA - The Santa Rosa Metro Chamber (SRMC) announces the departure of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Peter Rumble. Rumble leaves the organization after nearly seven years and will fill the position of CEO for the Napa County Farm Bureau. His new role is anticipated to begin shortly after Labor Day.

“Our Board is deeply grateful for the successes the chamber and our business community have realized under Peter’s leadership. He was a champion for policies to allow for more housing, fought for our small business community during the pandemic and beyond, and created programs that are having an incredible, positive impact” states Chamber Board Chair Lisa Wittke Schaffner, CEO of the North Coast Builders Exchange. “Our board anticipates a smooth transition, our finances are strong, membership is steady, and we have a solid team supporting our programs. Our Board will develop a plan to fill the position in the coming weeks. We wish Peter as much success in Napa as he has had in Sonoma County and look forward to continuing to work with him as a regional partner.”

Under Rumble’s leadership, SRMC has created tremendous benefits for its members and the community. Some of those accomplishments include:

• Creating the first affordable housing loan fund run by a Chamber of Commerce - the only of its kind in the country and acknowledged as the best program by the Western Association of Chamber Executives.
• Creating an Employee Supported Childcare program which is being used as an example for businesses across the country. SRMC leadership has been invited to the White House twice to speak on behalf of the program.
• Helping to create the Santa Rosa Downtown Action Organization, a non-profit Community Benefit District (CBD). The Chamber has also taken over the management of Courthouse Square events, bringing more arts and culture to downtown.
  
• Becoming the host for the Sonoma Business Development Center (SBDC), which was previously in Napa. The SBDC provides no-cost one-on-one counseling and training to support local entrepreneurs with the tools and insights to start, grow, and pivot their businesses.
• Expanding the destination marketing efforts to new sectors of tourism through its Visit Santa Rosa program.
• Creating the Chamber’s first 5-year strategic plan.
•  Being the first organization in the county to distribute financial assistance to small businesses during COVID and serving as a clearinghouse for financial assistance for natural disasters in Sonoma County, including floods in west county and fires in north county.
  
  In addition to taking on several new programs and initiatives since his 2018 start at the Chamber, Rumble and his team turned around the organization’s financial status. The Chamber was able to replenish its reserves and has had clean audits throughout his tenure.
  
  “I am grateful for the time I’ve spent with the Chamber,” says Rumble. “It was an amazing opportunity for me, with an amazing team, and I’m proud of the work we did for our members and the community. I aim to do the same for the Napa County Farm Bureau. I aim to serve as a staunch advocate for the industry, to increase the value the organization provides to its members and to the community at large, and to grow relationships, partnerships, and collaboration,” says Rumble. “I am excited, and at the same time leaving is difficult given all the success our board and staff have had together. But I’m confident that success will continue under new leadership.”