Todd Jones to leave Redding Chamber for role with Shasta College leading Workplace and Economic Development
Jones has led Redding’s business community as head of the Redding Chamber since 2024. The search for a new chamber director has already begun.
In a Facebook post last week, Todd Jones said the decision to depart from his role as CEO of the Redding Chamber of Commerce was not one he made lightly.
“While my time here was shorter than expected, it has been incredibly meaningful,” he wrote.
The Redding Chamber of Commerce is a business-oriented association that advocates for reducing regulations on businesses, coordinates with other business associations and government officials and promotes tourism.
Before Jones joined the chamber, he spent about six years at the Shasta Economic Development Corporation, eventually becoming president before taking his position as CEO in 2024.
Under Jones’ leadership, the chamber has continued to evolve its approach to attracting visitors to Redding, hosting networking events ahead of the recent Ironman triathlon and most recently celebrating the launch of a new round-trip intercity bus line from Redding to Sacramento.
Jones said he feels especially proud of establishing the chamber’s Government Affairs Committee, which has allowed the organization to strengthen the voice of the business community, in part by taking on a strategic role in local political forums and endorsements.
This fall Jones will be starting a new role as interim dean of Economic and Workforce Development at Shasta College. The occupationally focused department connects students with apprenticeships and adult education, including for those with disabilities, along with technical education programs.
Jones told Shasta Scout that his time at the chamber helped him realize that finding enough trained and available workers can be a setback for businesses looking to put down roots in Shasta. Part of what draws him to a new position at Shasta College, he said, is the school’s focus on cultivating those workers.
“Shasta College has demonstrated an ability to create programs that are right-sized for our economy such as logging, truck driving, nursing, and other health care specialties,” Jones explained, adding that in this new role, he’ll continue to play a role in supporting the local economy.
He will be replacing Jim Harrell who, like Jones, joined Shasta College as the interim dean in 2023 before becoming full-time dean in 2024. Harrell has now transitioned to a role as Dean of Extended Education and the North State Together program.
In his Facebook post, Jones said the search for the chamber’s next CEO was due to begin this week, and he’ll remain involved.
“In the months ahead,” he said, “I remain fully committed to finishing well, supporting our team, and helping ensure a smooth transition.”
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CZ, you seem to be fond of saying (yelling), “SUMPTUOUS salary”. While I can appreciate the alliteration, it’s feeling like you may be sporting a weighty chip on your shoulder or may have fallen on hard times. Anyway, just a thought, maybe try out a new adjective just to mix it up a bit. How about “WEIGHTY wage” or maybe skip the alliterations all together and go with “I’m mad it’s not my salary, it’s not fair.”
It is a SUMPTUOUS salary indeed.
The core issue is that Shasta Scout is painting this guy as some sort of anointed individual that will perform miracles bringing abundance and prosperity to this county.
NOBODY is this blog is willing to make the point that these so-called professionals are abandoning the private and nonprofit sector to secure a job position in the public arena, meaning taxpayers will be paying Todd Jones for results he cannot even guarantee in the first place…easy money indeed!
Todd did a great job at the Chamber. Shasta College is strengthened by this hire. His emphasis on work force readiness will benefit us all.
So sad to see Todd Jones go, he was fantastic and went above and beyond. He even helped with my complaints regarding the local business Burch Physical Therapy, I am never going back to that physical therapist!
An academic or operational Dean position at Shasta College is classified as a public, full-time administrative role with a clearly defined public salary structure.
Current Salary Data for Shasta College Deans: base annual salary for a full-time Dean at Shasta College is about $154,360 to $166,270.
Former Greater Redding Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Jones was reported earning approximately $117,462 in recent organizational tax filings. Redding Chamber is a nonprofit organization, classified by the IRS as a 501(c)(6) tax-exempt organization.
Apparently working for a nonprofit despite being at the top is not profitable.
Mr. Jones will become a PUBLIC EMPLOYEE while working at Shasta College, plus getting paid a SUMPTUOUS salary – easy taxpayer money indeed.