Steve Ahlenius Enters the San Angelo Chamber's Thunderdome

SAN ANGELO, TX – The San Angelo Chamber of Commerce announced today that Steve Ahlenius has been appointed as the new President and CEO, succeeding Walt Koenig, who retired abruptly a few months ago.

“Steve brings a wealth of experience, a proven leadership track record, and a forward-thinking vision that aligns perfectly with our Chamber’s goals. His dedication to fostering partnerships and his innovative approach make him an outstanding fit for this role,” said Chris Evatt, Chairman of the Chamber’s Board. “We are confident that Steve will lead us into an exciting new chapter of growth and opportunity, and we look forward to supporting his initiatives and seeing his impact on our business community."

Ahlenius becomes the fourth chamber president since the untimely death of Phil Neighbors in 2016, who held the position for a decade. Since then, the chamber has faced challenges in finding a long-term leader.

The end of Koenig's tenure was marked by public disputes with Mayor Brenda Gunter, primarily over the direction of the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) managed by the chamber with funds from the Hotel Occupancy Tax, and over economic development priorities. The City of San Angelo Development Corporation (COSA-DC), managed by the city council, contracts with the chamber for economic development sales and data services. In the final disagreement, Koenig requested a five-year contract for continuity, but the council responded with a one-year engagement with annual renewals. While the exact reasons for Koenig's departure remain unclear, sources confirm that his retirement was not entirely voluntary.

Ahlenius is no stranger to public disputes as the head of a chamber of commerce.

In August 2024, he abruptly resigned from the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, citing health reasons after serving for two years. “I have a serious health situation that I need to deal with over the next several months and need to focus on getting better," Ahlenius told The Beaumont Enterprise on August 30. "Running a chamber requires full-time focus, and I am not able to do both at this time.”

A month after his resignation, news emerged of an alleged embezzlement case involving Beaumont Chamber’s finance director, who was accused of stealing $83,000 from the organization. Link to news report.

Three years earlier, in October 2021, Ahlenius resigned from the McAllen Chamber after a 24-year tenure. When questioned why, he informed the chamber board that he was already consulting with an attorney. Local news suggested that the departure was linked to internal conflicts over adherence to chamber bylaws and whether the Mcallen Chamber properly conducted job performance evaluations of its CEO. Former McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos reportedly received letters of support for Ahlenius but was unable to resolve the board’s internal disagreements.

Despite these past challenges, the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce is optimistic that they have found the right leader to enter their "Chamber Thunderdome."

Ahlenius holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from Wayland Baptist University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Texas Tech University. He is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma. In 2015, he received the Marvin Hurley Award, the highest honor a Chamber Executive can earn, from the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives (TCCE). In 2017, he was honored with TCCE’s Distinguished Service Award and served as TCCE Chairman in 2021.

Throughout his career, Ahlenius has led the creation of 17 innovation and start-up programs, helping to launch over 200 start-ups. His notable achievements include converting a former church in McAllen’s downtown into an event center, transforming a 60,000-square-foot former library into a creative incubator and co-working space, and establishing South Texas’s first food truck park. His efforts have earned recognition for fostering an “eco-system” supporting women-led micro-businesses and promoting innovation and inclusion.

“San Angelo is a dynamic community with all the elements needed to become a benchmark city in Texas,” said Ahlenius. “I am honored to join this vibrant, forward-looking city, and I look forward to working with the Chamber board, business leaders, elected officials, and community members to build a prosperous future for San Angelo.”

For further reading:

• Why Phil Neighbors Mattered