Council Bluffs – The Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce announced that Tom Hanafan will be its interim president and CEO.

Hanafan will begin his chamber duties July 1, accord­ing to a news release distrib­uted Tuesday.

Hanafan served as mayor of Council Bluffs for 25 years and was a member of the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors. He will serve as the interim CEO while the chamber seeks to permanently replace the position most re­cently held by Dan Koenig, who announced his intention to pursue other opportunities.

Hanafan has been recog­nized by countless community organizations and continues to be active in Council Bluffs in his retirement, according to the chamber.

“The Chamber of Commerce is at a pivotal transition period and the board wanted to find an interim leader who could pro­vide some stability to our orga­nization and continue to serve and support the business com­munity of Council Bluffs,” said Don Kohler, vice president of marketing and public relations at Iowa Western Community College and chairman of the chamber board of directors. “Tom Hanafan was an easy choice to fill that leadership role.”

Hanafan, a lifelong Council Bluffs resident, said he looks forward to serving the com­munity in his interim role at the chamber. 

“Clearly, the Chamber of Commerce has always played a key role in the development of our great city,” Hanafan said. “I am going to work hard to help the chamber board and its membership during this transi­tion.”

– Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce