We reported in December of last year that Mike Metzler, the President of the organization that used to be known as the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce, has ben asked to retire, by his board of directors.  Now the Greater Santa Ana Business Alliance has confirmed, in an undated press release on their website, that Metzler is indeed stepping down.

Here is an excerpt from the press release:

The longtime Santa Ana resident, recognized throughout California and by national business and trade associations as a visionary and transformative leader in his industry, has chosen to retire from the Business Alliance effective January 10. He will serve an additional six months as a special consultant to facilitate an orderly transition for the organization.

Perhaps now the Greater Santa Ana Business Alliance can go back to being the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce. 

Metzler took a lof of heat for holding Chamber events outside of Santa Ana.  He is still doing so.  The Greater Santa Ana Business Alliance’s February Mixer is scheduled to take place at at Union Bank in Orange, at 500 S. Main St., from 5 to 7 p.m.  It is hard to believe that Metzler cannot find suitable locations in Santa Ana to hold such mixers. 

It will also be interesting to see if in the wake of Metzler’s pending retirement, the Greater Santa Ana Business Alliance will make an effort to diversify its executive team, which is currently comprised of white men – no women, no minorities.