Chamber President Ken Warner to retire this fall after serving in Willmar 33 years

Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce logo

By Linda Vanderwerf

January 27, 2023 at 12:01 PM

WILLMAR — Ken Warner, longtime president of the Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, has announced his plans to retire in October.

Warner informed the chamber’s board of directors of his retirement in a letter this week. His resignation will be effective Oct. 6, the 38th anniversary of his beginning to work in the Chamber of Commerce industry.

Ken Warner photo 2010 — Ken Warner, Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce

Of that 38 years, 33 of them have been spent in Willmar. Warner’s time in Willmar was split by a two-year stint working for the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce. He worked in Willmar from 1988 to 1995 and returned in 1997 after his time in St. Cloud.

In his letter to the board, he wrote, “It's been a privilege and honor to serve the members of the Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. Together with a committed staff and hundreds of active volunteers, we have successfully built an organization dedicated to advancing the business interests of our members and the Kandiyohi County community.”

Warner wrote that he has “thoroughly enjoyed” his time at the chamber.

By Linda Vanderwerf

In 42 years in the newspaper industry, Linda Vanderwerf has worked at several daily newspapers in Minnesota, including the Mesabi Daily News, now called the Mesabi Tribune in Virginia. Previously, she worked for the Las Cruces Sun-News in New Mexico and the Rapid City Journal in the Black Hills of South Dakota. She has been a reporter at the West Central Tribune for nearly 27 years.

Vanderwerf can be reached at email: lvanderwerf@wctrib.com or phone 320-214-4340

Chamber President Ken Warner to retire this fall after serving in Willmar 33 years

Retiring president of the Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Ken Warner says he has enjoyed his time working for the Willmar business community.