Published: July 23, 2008 01:14 pm            

Dalton-Whitfield chamber seeking president with defined skills

Submitted by the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce



Leadership, communications and economic development skills are the top traits desired of the next president and chief executive officer of the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce.

Business, government and community leaders recently completed a survey and stakeholder interviews as a part of the executive search process to select the new paid professional for the chamber. The results have provided a profile for the skill sets desired of the new executive.

“Through the membership of the chamber, we conducted an online survey to determine what skill sets were needed most by the new executive in order to be successful in the position and in the community,” said John Bowling, president of Hamilton Health Care Systems and chair of the Search Committee. “The results of our stakeholder interviews have been extremely supportive of the process and our mission of selecting a leader who has the experience to move the chamber to a new level of service.”

The survey results were presented to the Search Committee last week. Other skill sets, both professional and personal, highlighted as keys for success included vision, experience and community development. One-on-one stakeholder interviews were also conducted in the past 30 days and the comments from the 35 participants mirrored those of the online participants.

“The Dalton-Whitfield Chamber is the front door to our community,” says Bill Jourdain, chairman of the Executive Board of the chamber and a partner with Minor, Bell & Neal. “The process the Committee goes through prior to selecting a president is extremely important. The search has been, and will continue to be, inclusive of our members and other stakeholders.”

Advertisements, letters of interest and specifically personal contact have been a significant part of the initiative to identify candidates over the past 30 days. The deadline to submit a resume is July 25.

Online postings with professional economic development and chamber profession Web sites have generated many of the candidate leads. Contacts with leaders around the country have also produced results. Several local candidates have indicated interest as well.

Following the deadline, each candidate will be asked to complete a detailed application to provide personal philosophies on topics such as building consensus, economic development and government relations. A weighting scale will be utilized to narrow the field of candidates based on input from the survey, stakeholders and Search Committee.

Key qualifications for the president, established by the Search Committee, include a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent; minimum of three years experience in a leadership position at a Chamber of Commerce, economic organization or related field; and the successful candidate must reside in Whitfield County or become a resident of the county within 90 days of employment.

“The president of the chamber will be involved in economic development in a broad sense,” says Bowling. “The Joint Development Authority is a strong partner with the chamber and has a professional already in place leading this effort on a day-to-day basis. The president can play a major role in working with the authority and other community, regional and statewide stakeholders to ensure our economy diversifies in the future.”

Other responsibilities of the president’s position include providing vision, leadership and continuity for the chamber, internally and externally.

The chamber’s focus is in three core areas. Leadership development, community development and economic development are the building blocks for all programs and initiatives of the 900-member organization. The organization is recognized as one of the strongest voices for business in the region.

Each candidate is handled in a professional and confidential manner. Information on the community, chamber and the search process has been provided to everyone submitting a resume. Interviews for the leading candidates are expected in late August and early September, based on the results of the applications. October is the goal for the new president to join the chamber’s team.

Other members of the Search Committee, in addition to Bowling and Jourdain, include Vance Bell, Shaw Industries; Tom Bundros, Dalton Utilities; Dan Combs, State Farm Insurance; David Gregg, Alliance National Bank; Lynn Laughter, R. Lynn Laughter, LLC; Dick Lowrey, Councilman, City of Dalton; and Randy Waskul, Whitfield County Board of Commissioners.

The Chason Group, based in Cartersville, is assisting the committee with the search.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.