Korpela to resign from RF Chamber, Hausch appointed interim CEO

By Sarah Nigbor

River Falls Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Russ Korpela announced his resignation last week from the role he’s held for the past five-plus years.

In an announcement to chamber members, Board President Sheri Marnell of the St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center spoke of Korpela’s contributions to the business community during his tenure.

“His contributions have been invaluable to the growth and success of our organization and the River Falls community,” Marnell said. “During his time with the Chamber, Russ led several initiatives that strengthened local businesses, supported community engagement, and enhanced the Chamber’s role as a catalyst for positive change. His dedication and passion for River Falls will be greatly missed.”

She detailed his strategic direction, which she called a “breath of fresh air into our community.”

• Signature events: Each year Russ worked to modernize our large signature events that have grown beyond what we knew they could, filling our hotels and beyond.  Including bringing in over $150,000 of grants. 
• New Strategic Task Forces: These drove a deeper economic connection to our community, such as starting the Legislative and Business Education Leadership Link committees.  
• Reimagining the website and marketing: This included our first LinkedIn page, and, under his leadership, our social media presence has grown significantly. Developed a new tourism website, experienceriverfalls.com and Facebook page. 

Korpela will be pursuing new opportunities including starting a vinyl record store in town. Grooves Records will be located between Swinging Bridge and Table on Main in downtown River Falls in the former Goldsmith Shop.

“We are thrilled for him as he embarks on this new chapter and are confident that his entrepreneurial spirit will contribute to the vibrancy of our community,” Marnell said. “We also look forward to his ongoing involvement with the Chamber in various capacities in the future and now as a member.”

Korpela’s last full day will be Friday, Feb. 28; he will serve in a part-time transitional role through March 28, 2025. He will also be beginning a new role in addition to opening a record store.

“Last night (Monday, Feb. 3), I was appointed Town Clerk of the Township of Ellsworth,” Korpela said. “This past November the Town held a referendum to change the Clerk’s position from elected to appointed. I am looking forward to continuing to provide leadership in the region in this new role. It is a 20-hour per week position so it will work well with my work on record store.”

Effective March 1, 2025, current Program & Event Manager Megan Hausch will begin serving as Interim CEO.

“We are very confident that she will do an amazing job filling these shoes. The Board of Directors is already developing a thoughtful and comprehensive plan to hire a new CEO. We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will work closely with Russ to make sure all responsibilities are properly handed off.”

Hausch said working alongside Korpela has been an invaluable experience.

“I’ve learned a great deal from his thoughtful decision-making and his ability to keep the organization focused on long-term goals,” Hausch said. “As I step into the interim CEO role, my focus will be on following and building upon that strategic plan, ensuring we stay on track with the objectives set while also staying agile to address new challenges.”

Hausch said her main priority is to ensure a seamless transition. This includes continuing to provide quality programming and events for investors and the community, continuing to build on the momentum they’ve built to implement effective organizational systems that will position the organization for long term sustainability, while also looking for new opportunities for growth.
‘Our team, board of directors, and many dedicated volunteers are incredibly talented and supportive, and together, we will continue to drive innovation and excellence. For our investors, they can expect an ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality service, fostering strong relationships, and adapting to their evolving needs,” Hausch said. “We’re also exploring new initiatives to improve the membership experience, so they’ll see continued focus on value, communication, and support. I look forward to engaging with our business community more closely and making sure their voices are heard as we shape the next chapter.”