January 04, 2023, NAPA, CA – The Napa Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors announced that Jeri Hansen has been named the organization’s new President & Chief Executive Officer, effective January 3, 2023.
“The Board is very excited Jeri has accepted our offer to become the President and CEO,” said Board Chair Greg Brun. “She has worked closely with the Napa Chamber in several roles over the past two decades, including serving as Chair of the Board in 2007. Jeri brings a great amount of institutional knowledge with her, and she already has strong working relationships with many of our Chamber business members, elected officials and other community stakeholders.”
Hansen has been working closely with the Chamber’s Executive Committee and retiring President & CEO Travis Stanley since he announced in October his intention to leave the position early in 2023, according to Brun.
As the membership organization for business, the Chamber promotes our community’s economic vitality and quality of life through leadership development, advocacy, facilitation, and education, according to Hansen.
“I’m excited to continue to lead the growth of our organization that has developed under Travis and the Board of Directors,” Hansen said. “The Chamber of Commerce is the collective voice for business and focuses on public policy issues, but it is also an organization that creates camaraderie and builds community. I am eager to expand on these roles.”
“I’m extremely confident about the future of the Chamber,” said incoming Board Chair Christi Coors Ficelli. “Over many years, Jeri has shown a commitment to support our members and the Napa business community. She has extensive experience, enthusiasm, and a professional network that will be great assets in her new leadership role.”
Since January 2020, Hansen has been Founder and Principal at Jeri Hansen Company, specializing in community engagement, public policy, and strategic planning. From 2008-2020, Jeri was CEO of Sustainable Napa County, a non-profit, non-governmental organization started by the Gasser Foundation to focus on energy, climate and natural resource policy and programs in Napa County. From 2000-2008, Hansen was Public Affairs Manager for the Napa Valley Vintners.
Appointed to the Napa County Planning Commission in 2015, Hansen served for four and a half years, including as the Chair of the Commission in 2017.
Hansen is a member of the Board of Directors of Redwood Credit Union and is Chair of the Workforce Alliance of the North Bay. She has served on the Napa Valley Exposition (25th District Agricultural Association) Board of Directors since 2014 and is currently President of the Board.
Jeri is Past-State President of California Women for Agriculture and served six years as a member of the University of California President’s Advisory Commission for the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
In 2017, Hansen was recognized by California State Senator Bill Dodd as Senate District 3 Woman of the Year for Napa County. In 2008, she was named one of North Bay Business Journal’s Forty Under 40. In 2007, she was awarded the Common Threads Award recognizing women in agriculture who are also active in philanthropic and community service.
