Members of the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce continue to mourn the loss of one of their own. President & CEO John Ryan passed away from a heart attack Saturday morning. Officials at the Chamber say for now, Ryan’s office remains untouched, his door still closed from the close of business last Friday. Other office managers have stepped up to keep the Chamber moving forward as the Board of Directors looks at the succession plan. Board Chair Evan Duke told ABC-7 “We’ll find the right person but we won’t hire someone until we find the right person.” In June, Ryan celebrated 20 years at the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce. He started as the sales director, and quickly rose to the rank of CEO.
