Press Release: Announcement of CEO Russ Korpela's Resignation
Hello River Falls Chamber Community,
Transitions are always bittersweet. For me personally, I always want to support people when new doors open, new chapters begin, but then on the other hand, it is hard to see a great leader move on.
Today, I write to share that our CEO, Russ Korpela, had a door open he could not refuse. There is never a ‘perfect’ time for transition but if we had one, it would be now, as we are fortunate to have a solid team in place with Megan and Rillie and a small lull in our events.
Russ has done an amazing job over the last 5+ years setting the River Falls Chamber up with a strong vision for the future. His contributions have been invaluable to the growth and success of our organization and the River Falls community. During his time with the Chamber, Russ led several initiatives that strengthened local businesses, supported community engagement, and enhanced the Chamber's role as a catalyst for positive change. His dedication and passion for River Falls will be greatly missed.
Although change is hard for most, his strategic direction was clear and drove a breath of fresh air into our community. Some of his large highlights during his tenure include:
- Signature Events: Each year Russ worked to modernize our large signature events that have grown beyond what we knew they could, filling our hotels and beyond. Including bringing over $150,000 of grants.
- New Strategic Task Forces: These drove a deeper economic connection to our community, such as starting the Legislative and Business Education Leadership Link committees.
- Reimagining Our Website and Marketing: This included our first LinkedIn page, and, under his leadership, our social media presence has grown significantly. Developed a new tourism website, experienceriverfalls.com and Facebook page.
Russ has shared that he will be pursuing new opportunities including the exciting endeavor of starting a vinyl record store right here in town. Grooves Records will be between Swinging Bridge and Table on Main in downtown River Falls in the former Goldsmith Shop. We are thrilled for him as he embarks on this new chapter and are confident that his entrepreneurial spirit will contribute to the vibrancy of our community. We also look forward to his ongoing involvement with the Chamber in various capacities in the future and now as a member!
Please join me in thanking Russ for his strategic vision and congratulating him on his next chapter! We are blessed to be able to keep Russ on to help with the transition through the Bluegrass Festival and naturally, he will always be a resource for us. His last full day will be Friday 28, 2025 and will serve in a part-time transitional role through March 28, 2025.
Effective March 1, 2025, our current Program & Event Manager, Megan Hausch, will begin serving as Interim CEO. We are very confident that she will do an amazing job filling these shoes. The Board of Directors is already developing a thoughtful and comprehensive plan to hire a new CEO. We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will work closely with Russ to make sure all responsibilities are properly handed off. Russ has graciously offered to assist with the transition process as needed beyond his official departure date, and we are grateful for his continued support.
Thank you for your patience during this transition. You are always welcome to reach out to me if you have any questions.
On behalf of the Board, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to Russ for his years of hard work and dedication. We wish him all the best in his new ventures and look forward to his continued contributions to our community.
Sincerely,
Sheri Marnell
Board Chair, River Falls Chamber of Commerce
Director - St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center
Sheri.Marnell@uwrf.edu or 715-425-4288
