Jimmy Olsen, a certified marketing consultant who has over 30 years of experience in radio, was recently selected as the new executive director of the Downtown Des Moines Chamber of Commerce. 

Olsen, who had been serving as director at large on the chamber’s board of directors, took over the position July 24 and is currently in the onboarding stage in his new role. 

“I’m excited, looking forward to working with the downtown businesses and continuing the vision of the Downtown Des Moines Chamber of Commerce,” Olsen said. 

Olsen also has served as an emcee at various networking and charity events through his radio work and private DJ business. He resides in the Drake neighborhood and will office out of various coffee shops and venues around the downtown area. 

Staci Bennett, who served as executive director from February 2021 to April 2023, is now the business manager at Explore Alexandria Tourism in Minnesota. 

Joe Benesh, secretary on the board of directors, briefly served as the interim director, after Bennett left.