Edmonds Chamber of Commerce announces it will hire president/CEO

chamber logoThe Edmonds Chamber of Commerce has announced a restructuring of its staffing and board that includes the hiring of a president and chief executive officer for the organization.

“Our Board of Directors has reviewed the overall staffing, financial and overall needs of our chamber and has determined that we need strong staff leadership to move us forward starting in 2014,” current Chamber Board President Ron Clyborne said in an email to members Wednesday. “The president/CEO position will not be additional head-count for the office, rather, an adjustment to current staff roles and responsibilities.”

According to Clyborne, the president/CEO will be responsible for leadership and management of the Edmonds Chamber, a nonprofit organization with a mission to “promote the economic vitality of the greater Edmonds business community, through advocacy, leadership and education.” The new position will report to the chamber’s board of directors, and will be responsible for developing and managing the organization’s $750,000 budget, and supervising a paid and contract staff of between two and five people.

The chamber board will also be changing titles for board officer positions to align with the new president and CEO title, Clyborne said. “The current president of the board will be changed to the board chair, VPs will become vice-chairs, etc. This title-structure will be more in line with area leadership non-profit organizations and also reflect the business nature and focus of the chamber,” he added.

Ailsa Kellam, the chamber’s former director of development and communications, resigned her position in July to pursue other business interests. Kellam and Valerie Claypool, the chamber’s director of membership and events, were appointed to their jobs in March 2012 following an organizational restructuring that included the departure of long-time Chamber Executive Director Jan Vance.

At the time of Kellam’s departure, Clyborne said the chamber board would study its long-term staffing needs and structure before naming a successor.

For more information about the open chamber position, icluding a copy of the job advertisement and job description, go to edmondswa.com. The Chamber office will not respond to phone calls or inquiries, as the search is being conducted by the board of directors’ search committee, Clyborne said.

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