Chamber opens its search for new director

The Harbor Springs Chamber of Commerce has officially begun a search for a new executive director. The organization has been operating without a paid director for more than a year.

An advertisement seeking applications was placed in this newspaper this week (see page 8) and other publications.

Chamber board president Gregg Garver said this week that an ideal timeline would be taking applications until Jan. 31; interviews in February; recommendation to the board for hiring in March; and a new director starting in April.

Garver said the board is open to a variety of backgrounds in its next director.

“Chamber experience would be nice as would association or membership organization experience,” he said. “But we are open minded going in to the process. The applicants and their experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

“Experience working with a membership of some kind and working with a volunteer board is important.”

Building and maintaining a strong chamber will be a top priority in the coming years, Garver said.

“The number one priority for the new director will be membership recruitment and retention. A strong relationship between a director and the membership will create a stronger Chamber.”

For more information, see the Chamber ad on page 8 or visit www.harborspringschamber.com.

This is part of the January 7, 2009 online edition of Harbor Light Newspaper.

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