Long Beach Economic Development Director John Keisler is leaving the City to join a private sector company in a leadership role, City Manager Tom Modica announced today.
As economic development director, Keisler oversaw activities related to real estate, business and workforce development across four bureaus for 88 full-time staff.
During his tenure, Keisler re-established the Economic Development Commission, developed the City’s 10-Year Blueprint for Economic Development and made contributions to equitable and inclusive development through the Everyone In Plan, Digital Inclusion Roadmap, Framework for Reconciliation and the Long Beach Recovery Act.
“John has transformed economic development in the City and has set a precedent for innovative, equitable and sustainable growth that our city will continue to benefit from for years to come,” Modica said in a statement.
Under Keisler’s leadership, the department was a founding member of the Long Beach Accelerator, Long Beach Economic Partnership, Long Beach Center for Economic Inclusion and the Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at CSULB.
Before becoming economic development director, he was the director of the Office of Civic Innovation, chief financial officer of the Long Beach Police Department, operations bureau manager for Parks, Recreation and Marine and the Animal bureau manager for Animal Care Services.
“Over 70 years, the City of Long Beach has been a source of inspiration and opportunity for the Keisler family. This is the city where my grandparents were able to buy their first home in the 1940s and to send their first child to college at CSULB,” Keisler said in a statement.
He continues to live in Long Beach with his wife and two sons where he serves on a number of community nonprofit boards.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the City and raise our two boys in such a diverse, dynamic and aspirational community,” Keisler said. “Although I may be leaving City Hall, my wife Laura and I will remain active and engaged members of the Long Beach community and will continue our work to make it a city of opportunity for generations to come.”
Keisler’s last day with the City is March 31, 2022. The city manager will assign an interim director while the City conducts a national recruitment to permanently fill his position.
