Chamber Director Resigns Abruptly; Exe. Board Agrees Not To Talk

By Gibson County News | June 26, 2026 |

By Victor Parkins

Milan Chamber of Commerce Director Kayley Coday has left the building—and quickly.

Executive Board members of the Chamber met last Tuesday morning in private and then visited the office to give Ms. Coday the opportunity to resign or be terminated. After her resignation, the locks were immediately changed on the chamber office, and her city-issued cell phone was turned off.

Chamber President Ashley Miller was brief in her statement to the Mirror Exchange when asked about the abrupt change in leadership.

“Kayley resigned—I wish her well. If you have any further questions, please ask Chad Butler,” she wrote in a text message.

Miller stated there was no resignation letter because Coday submitted a verbal resignation at an executive board meeting.

Mr. Butler, who is Treasurer of the Chamber and also acts as their attorney, echoed Miller’s comment.

“Legally, all I can tell you is that she resigned,” Butler said.

In a text message to the newspaper, Ms. Coday confirmed that she had left the position.

“I have resigned from the Chamber, and I wish the Chamber and City of Milan well in future endeavors,” she said.

The legal maneuvering came about after Coday and executive board members all signed non-disclosure agreements to not speak of the resignation publicly. A source told the newspaper that the chamber had recently hired an accountant to audit their books. When the audit was returned, that’s when they took immediate action.

Milan Mayor B.W. Beasley said he was notified of Ms. Coday’s resignation Tuesday around noon but wasn’t given any reason for her immediate departure.

The Milan Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit organization and is not subject to open records requests. However, the city provides $26,500 in public funds to the chamber each year, which could open the door for public inspection of financial statements and audits.