Melissa Cox, the prominent CEO and president of the Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce, faced a significant setback when she was dismissed. This came after an internal audit uncovered financial irregularities that were allegedly linked to her as the former leader. The Ankeny chamber took swift action and emailed its members on Monday to inform them about the situation. The related information was then handed over to the local police for a possible criminal investigation.

Confirmation and Timing

Tony Mills, the vice chair of the chamber's board of directors, confirmed the authenticity of the email on Tuesday. Cox's dismissal became effective on Saturday. Sgt. Corey Schneden, the spokesperson for the Ankeny Police Department, stated that the department received a report from the chamber on that very day. Currently, the detectives are in the process of reviewing all the provided information, and the case remains under active investigation.

Financial Irregularities and Its Impact

The internal audit revealed these financial irregularities, which led to the decision to dismiss Cox. It was a difficult but necessary step for the chamber. Mills declined to disclose the exact amount of money missing or the nature of the irregularities, citing the ongoing investigation. Cox had been leading the chamber since December 2021. The Register tried to reach out to her via LinkedIn but did not receive an immediate reply.Before taking on the role at the Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce, Cox had served in leadership positions with the Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines. There, she was involved in raising funds, coordinating events, and building relationships with association members. She is also a founder of the Iowa Skilled Trades organization.

Next Steps for the Chamber

The chamber's board is now working with an external audit team to thoroughly assess the extent of the issue. They have insurance in place to help cover such occurrences, as stated in a statement from Mills. The chamber remains financially sound and is focused on fulfilling its mission. The board and staff are committed to ensuring that this incident will not hinder the chamber's efforts moving forward.Trent Murphy was named interim CEO and will provide day-to-day oversight of the chamber office on behalf of the board. While the board begins the process of finding a new, permanent CEO, Murphy will play a crucial role in maintaining the operations. Murphy is a former Ankeny school board member and the owner of Murphy Enterprises, Inc.Phillip Sitter covers the suburbs for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com or on X at @pslifeisabeauty.