Santa Clarita Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Larry Mankin, 62, announced his retirement last week and the chamber announced that Ed Masterson will step in as interim director. Mankin served the Santa Clarita Chamber for 7 years and worked for chambers across the country for 35 years. Mankin and his wife will return to the Midwest where their family is located so they can spend more time with their grandchildren. “My wife and I missed the growing up of our two grandchildren,” Mankin said. “We don’t want to do the same for the third. We’re going back to the land of snow [in the Midwest].” Masterson, who Mankin praised as “world class,” works as a field representative for Assemblyman Cameron Smythe and has previously emceed luncheons for the chamber. He begins his one-year term as interim director May 3. “Masterson is great in business and he gets it when it comes to government,” Mankin said. Masterson is well qualified to fill the critical leadership role because of familiarity with the chamber staff and board members, said chamber Chairman of the Board John Shaffery. The chamber will continue working with local community colleges and partners as it had under Mankin’s stewardship, Masterson said. “It should be smooth and congenial,” Masterson said of the transition from Smythe’s office to his new position at interim director at the chamber.
Santa Clarita Chamber’s Mankin Retires, Masterson Steps In
