The Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce has its man or woman, but it’s not telling just yet who has been offered the job as the chamber's next CEO.
Mike Malone, Darryl Schleem and Liz Keras were finalists for the vacant chamber CEO position. One of the three has been offered the job and is negotiating with the chamber, but chamber board of director's chairperson Wendy Renner would not say which of the finalists is the board's first choice.
Renner said she hopes to introduce the new CEO in a few days.
Last week, chamber members met with the three candidates.
The new CEO will replace David Smith who after 14 years at the helm of the Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce announced in September he is leaving for a new job. Smith now serves as the CEO of the Helena Family YMCA.
"I could not love a community more than Bozeman or be more proud than I am of the work we've done together. But, a wise person once said it's good to leave on top and I really think the time has come for me to move on to something new," Smith said in the news release at the time his departure was announced.
Under Smith's leadership, the chamber's membership grew 85 percent since 1995, giving Bozeman the most members of any chamber of commerce in the state, according to the chamber's Web site.
(From Nov. 18, 2009)
The Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce has narrowed its choices to three finalists for the vacant chief executive officer position.
This week chamber members are meeting with the three candidates. Mike Malone and Darryl Schleem were introduced to chamber members Monday and Tuesday. On Friday evening Liz Keras will take a turn at working the room.
“One of our main criteria was that the person have chamber experience or business experience. All three of our candidates rose to the top in those categories,” BACC chairperson Wendy Renner said.
The chamber hopes to have a decision to announce at its Monday meeting, Renner said.
The new CEO will replace David Smith who after 14 years at the helm of the Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce announced in September he is leaving for a new job. Smith now serves as the CEO of the Helena Family YMCA.
"I could not love a community more than Bozeman or be more proud than I am of the work we've done together. But, a wise person once said it's good to leave on top and I really think the time has come for me to move on to something new," Smith said in the news release at the time his departure was announced.
Under Smith's leadership, the chamber's membership grew 85 percent since 1995, giving Bozeman the most members of any chamber of commerce in the state, according to the chamber's Web site.
- Mark Martello reporting for Z7 in Bozeman
