Chamber of Commerce Names New President

The Chamber of Commerce announced this week that Mike Neben--its interim president and CEO since Steve Snyder abruptly left in March--officially stepped into the role permanently on Friday.

A former Anaheim business owner and a chamber staff member for the last four years, Neben had been on an original short list of candidates to replace ex-chamber President Susan Klaren when she retired in May 1999. The chamber board had passed over Neben, favoring Snyder for his extensive experience in revitalizing small city chambers.

Neben said he had welcomed Snyder’s presence in Anaheim and learned from him during his short tenure. But when Snyder left, Neben knew he wanted the job.

“Now that I’m promoted, I’m energized, and we’ll move forward as quickly as we can,” Neben said.

The chamber had looked all over the country for the right boss last year. But after taking office in December, Snyder resigned in March, saying he had lost his passion after working over 24 years for four chambers.

Since his surprise resignation, Snyder has taken a position with the California Chamber of Commerce, where he advises chamber executives in Northern California, a job that has far less stress than that of CEO, he said.

“It wasn’t so much Anaheim as it was me personally,” Snyder said. Things that used to excite him about running a local chamber didn’t anymore, he said. And Snyder said he constantly fretted. “I worried about my staff, the volunteers, having enough money. I think I was driving my family crazy,” he said.

Neben said his primary goal as CEO is to increase membership. The chamber wants to be a proactive force in helping shape the city’s future, he said.

Board Chairman Jerry O’Connell said the board chose Neben because he is well-liked, respected by the staff and has done a good job as interim CEO.

“We just needed to look in our own backyard,” O’Connell said.

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Judy Silber can be reached at (714) 966-5988.