Judy Kruger, the president and CEO of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, announced she will step down from the role by the end of June, concluding a four-year tenure during which the organization expanded its programming and restored financial footing following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kruger, who has led the chamber since June 1, 2022, said she is departing to pursue work in government affairs and advocacy. In a letter to chamber members, she said she would continue working alongside the board and a search committee already established to facilitate the transition.
"This is an exciting time to be a part of the Chamber as it evaluates its next priorities and appoints its next leader," Kruger wrote.
Board Chair Paula Larmore credited Kruger with achieving "meaningful progress" during her tenure, citing improved financial stability, expanded grant activity, and continued engagement with the local business community. Larmore also noted that Kruger made intentional efforts to foster diversity within the chamber's culture and programming.
"Judy has been deeply committed to the Chamber's mission and has invested significant time and energy advancing the Chamber's work and visibility," Larmore wrote in a separate letter to members.
Kruger came to the chamber from the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, where she had served as senior director of strategic initiatives. She succeeded Laurel Rosen, who held the president and CEO role for approximately 14 years, from November 2007 through spring 2022.
During Kruger's four years at the helm, the chamber grew its programming to include larger networking events, a business workshop series and new grant funding tied to economic recovery efforts. Revenue also rebounded significantly under her leadership. IRS filings show the organization's total revenue reached approximately $704,000 in fiscal year 2024, up from a pandemic low of roughly $424,000 in fiscal 2021, though still below the pre-pandemic figure of about $888,000 in fiscal 2019.
The chamber's Search Committee is now soliciting member input on the qualities and qualifications they would like the next president and CEO to possess. Members can submit their thoughts by emailing CEOsearch@smchamber.com. Larmore said additional opportunities for member input would be available as the search process continues.
Founded in 1925, the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit business organization representing more than 650 member businesses across sectors including hospitality, health care, professional services, retail, technology, education and nonprofits. The chamber celebrated its centennial in 2025. It is headquartered at 2525 Main St., Suite 103, in Santa Monica.
Annual membership dues are scaled by employee count, ranging from $470 for nonprofits or single-employee businesses to $3,800 for companies with more than 100 employees. Restaurants pay between $620 and $750 depending on seating capacity.
The chamber's mission centers on membership services, economic development and advocacy. Its formal advocacy process routes issues through a Government Affairs Committee before the board takes a position. In March 2026, the chamber endorsed the Santa Monica City Council's zoning overhaul that streamlined business permitting, calling the changes commonsense solutions to removing barriers to business activity. Other policy positions have included support for the Providence Saint John's Phase II campus plan, California's film tax credit extension and extending pandemic-era regulatory flexibilities for outdoor dining and alcohol sales.
The chamber hosts a regular schedule of events throughout the year, including an International Women's Day event in March, the Sustainable Quality Awards in spring — now in its 29th year, co-hosted with the city since 1995 — and the New Heroes Celebration in September. Monthly networking events include Biz@Sunset mixers, Coffee Connections gatherings and speed networking sessions.
Through a separate 501(c)(3) arm, the Santa Monica Chamber Foundation, the organization runs the NextGen Mentorship Program in partnership with Santa Monica College, pairing Black and Latino students with professional mentors each semester. The chamber also co-founded the Santa Monica Alliance with the city in 2011 to support business attraction and retention, and is a co-founding member of the Los Angeles Business Federation, known as BizFed.
Following the January 2025 Palisades Fire, the chamber formed a Rebuild Committee and hosted an inaugural Rebuild, Health, and Wellness Expo in January 2026. A 2025-2030 strategic plan was published in April 2025.
The chamber can be reached at (310) 393-9825 or at smchamber.com.