Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce President Announces Retirement

PALO ALTO, CA — Judy Kleinberg, the president of the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce, will retire from her position at the end of March, the chamber announced in a news release on Tuesday.

Charlie Weidanz, who is currently serving as CEO, will take on the additional responsibility of president.

Kleinberg, a former Palo Alto mayor, has been at the chamber since 2014. According to the news release, Kleinberg helped start the Chamber Foundation, which focuses on community engagement and collaboration across sectors.

Kleinberg, who is also a member of the Palo Alto Citizen Corps Council, said in a statement that she will leave the chamber to focus on her business law practice and spend more time supporting local nonprofits.

“It has been a highlight of my long professional career to have worked with the board, staff, community leaders and especially the members of the Palo Alto Chamber over the past 6 1/2 years,” Kleinberg said. “I’m confident that Charlie’s superb talents and management skills will lead the Chamber to new levels of success."

Matt Dolan, chair of the chamber board, added that Kleinberg will continue as a director of the Chamber Foundation.

“Judy’s leadership on behalf of the business sector has strengthened its ability to have a positive impact on our community’s vitality and quality of life, and her leadership in supporting our business community during the past year of economic hardship due to the pandemic has been invaluable,” Dolan said in the news release.