Mayor Pulls $476K Chamber Contract After Sudden Firing of Chamber CEO

San Angelo Mayor Tom Thompson is pulling a proposed $476,000 contract for the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce from the City Council’s September 1 agenda following the sudden firing of Chamber President and CEO Steve Ahlenius. Thompson says the council needs more information about the Chamber’s future role in economic development, business recruitment and tourism marketing before approving additional funding. The contract, which expires September 30, includes goals for job creation, capital investment, business recruitment and other economic-development efforts. Jeremy Bartz, the Chamber’s vice president of destination marketing, is serving as acting president and CEO during the transition.