Monett Chamber formally dismisses Burks, issues with executive director remain vague, undeclared

In an announcement released on April 24, the Monett Chamber of Commerce stated it had dismissed executive director Jasmine Burks. Burks had been placed on administrative leave after the new Chamber board convened its annual joint meeting on March 11. 

“Effective April 17, 2026, the Board of Directors of the Monett Chamber of Commerce voted to terminate the employment of its executive director, Jasmine Burks, following the identification of significant concerns related to financial management and compliance, as well as her failure to cooperate in the Board of Directors’ ongoing review,” said the announcement. 

“Upon becoming aware of financial concerns, the board acted promptly to safeguard the organization’s financial integrity,” the statement continued. “The board secured access to accounts and records and engaged independent legal counsel to conduct a thorough and impartial review of the Chamber’s financial practices and internal controls. The board is continuing its investigation and will take any additional actions it deems appropriate based on the findings.”

Asked to respond, Burks stated the correspondence she received from the Chamber’s new legal counsel indicated the Chamber would cease paying her a week prior to the April 17 termination announcement, without any further explanation. 

Asked to meet with the Chamber’s attorney, Burks said a senior lawyer advised her never to meet in a potentially adversarial situation with another party’s attorney without having legal representation herself. On that advice, she declined the meeting referenced in the announcement. She further noted she only had access to one of the Chamber’s bank accounts, while the Chamber’s executive board has retained access to all five. Burks expressed concern that she was being blamed for potential mismanagement that the executive board has controlled throughout and continues to control. She has heard she was accused of personally misusing Chamber funds, which she denies, but has received no details or been given an opportunity to defend herself. 

The letter from the Chamber’s attorney, Burks said, also criticized her for speaking to the press. An interview with The Record was given prior to an official statement of her status with the Chamber. 

Interim executive director Suzy McElmurry reported the board has also decided to retain its former board to act in conjunction with the new board for at least the next two months. That is an unprecedented decision. 

The Chamber’s new release concluded, “The Chamber remains fully committed to the responsible stewardship of its resources, and the Board’s primary focus right now is ensuring uninterrupted operations and continued service to the Monett community.

“The board appreciates the community’s patience and support as it works diligently to address these matters responsibly and in the best interests of the Chamber and its members.”