PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – Today, City Manager Tom Modica announced the forthcoming departure of longtime City employee John Keisler. Mr. Keisler joined the City of Long Beach in 2005 and has served as the director of the Department of Economic development since 2017. He is leaving the City to join a private sector company in a leadership role.

“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 many years to come,” said City Manager Tom Modica. “He is the true definition of a public servant, dedicated to improving his community and has built an amazing team and network of supporting organizations to help grow Long Beach’s economy.”

In his role as the Economic Development Director, Mr. Keisler oversaw activities related to real estate, business and workforce development across four bureaus with 88 full-time staff. The Department manages approximately $23 million in revenue and has an annual budget of approximately $20 million.

Mr. Keisler is known for his personal passion to increase equitable economic opportunities for workers, investors and entrepreneurs. During his tenure as director, the City re-established the Economic Development Commission and developed the 10-Year Blueprint for Economic Development, which led to a new vision for economic growth and helped to facilitate a historic increase of private sector investment in the city.  Mr. Keisler made contributions to creating a more equitable and inclusive economy through the Everyone In Plan, Digital Inclusion Roadmap, the Framework for Reconciliation and the Long Beach Recovery Act, which established 33 new economic support programs and over $30 million in direct economic support to the local economy following the economic emergency caused by COVID-19. Other Department accomplishments include the launch of BizPort, BizCare Outreach, the Economic Insights Dashboard, the Guaranteed Income Pilot Program, WorkLB, the Economic Inclusion Initiative, Business License and Fee Grant, and Storefront Reopening programs. The Department was also 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.

Mr. Keisler has additionally held a multitude of other leadership roles during his tenure with the City, including Office of Civic Innovation Director, Long Beach Police Department Chief Financial Officer, and Bureau Manager for Parks, Recreation and Marine Business Operations Bureau and Animal Care Services Bureau. 

“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,” said Keisler. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the City and to raise our two boys in such a diverse, dynamic, and aspirational community. 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.”

Mr. Keisler continues to live in Long Beach with his wife and two sons where he serves on a number of community non-profit boards. His 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 the position.