Christensen takes CDA chamber top job

Todd Christensen is the new president and CEO of the Coeur d’Alene Area Chamber of Commerce. He replaces Jonathan Coe, who stepped down in California to take a job with the chamber in Santa Rosa, Calif.

Christensen brings more than 11 years of chamber and economic development experience to Coeur d’Alene. Most recently he served as vice president and marketing director for Bank of the Pacific, a commercial bank operating in Washington and Oregon. Earlier, he led the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce in Washington State, leading a doubling of membership and helping to develop key community events to attract regional and national audience.

“The opportunity to move to Coeur d’Alene and work with the chamber is exciting,” he said in a statement that the chamber released Nov. 30. “The chamber and community have an excellent reputation, and I look forward to continuing the success and legacy of each.”

Christensen and his wife, Pamela, and their four children plan to move to Coeur d’Alene in January. Todd Christensen was selected from a wide array of applicants compiled by Waverly Partners LLC, a national recruiting firm specializing in chamber executive recruitment and placement. The extensive interview process included discussions with more than 40 community leaders.

 “We are extremely pleased that we were able to attract such a quality individual with great experience to Coeur d’Alene, said Mark Fisher, search committee chairman and 2009 chamber board chairman. “Todd will be a tremendous asset for our chamber.”

“As the chamber’s mission is to be the leading business advocate and tourism marketing organization, it was extremely important that we hired the right individual,” Fisher said. “Todd’s the right fit to lead our organization into the future.”