Outgoing Citrus Heights Chamber director praised for ‘bang-up job’

By Sara Beth Williams–
The City Council on Thursday recognized former Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Diane Ebbitt-Riehle for her service to the community.

The proclamation honoring Ebbitt-Riehle was read and presented at the Feb. 8 City Council meeting by Councilmember Tim Schaefer. The proclamation described her as a “valued partner” and praised her for implementing programs that assisted businesses during the pandemic, including Covid-19 recovery and support programs like the city’s Love Local Campaign. Ebbitt-Riehle also supported the young Auburn Boulevard Business Association throughout her stint as executive director.

Schaefer added that Ebbitt-Riehle volunteered on the Chamber board for many years prior to serving as executive director and was chosen as the Chamber’s Ambassador of the Year in 2004, Businessperson of the Year in 2006, and Chamber board president in 2008. The proclamation stated that Ebbitt-Riehle was also “instrumental in the creation of the Best of Citrus Heights program, which celebrates the best businesses in Citrus Heights from over 40 different categories.”

“It was a very hard decision for me to leave the city of Citrus Heights, but I did, and I did it just–mainly because of the pay, what can I say,” Ebbitt-Riehle said with a smile in a candid statement to the council, noting she was offered nearly $20,000 more in salary elsewhere.

As reported by The Sentinel last month, Ebbitt-Riehle and her husband Ray Riehle recently moved from Orangevale to Citrus Heights, where she is still volunteering on the board for the Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART), as well as the Citrus Heights Rotary Club, and also plans to become involved in her neighborhood association. Her husband owns A-Applied Mailing Service in Citrus Heights and is currently running for congress.

Mayor Bret Daniels said he initially had some reservations when Ebbitt-Riehle was selected to head the Chamber, but after watching her serve he credited her for doing “a bang-up job” during her time as executive director.

“Your fingerprints are all over Citrus Heights, they’re not just on the Chamber, they’re all over Citrus Heights,” said Daniels. “Without the Chamber’s success, Citrus Heights doesn’t have success.”

Ebbitt-Riehle said she “thoroughly enjoyed working with everyone” during her time as the Chamber’s executive director since 2020, adding that she still wants to work with the city as much as she can.

Her last day with the Chamber was Jan. 12, 2024. The Chamber is currently seeking a new candidate for executive director.