FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 30, 2007
Contact Information:
John Edwards
The Development Authority of Pike County
770-567-2500
Tim Chason
The Chason Group, Inc.
404-735-0540

Twenty-One Candidates Submit Resumes for Development Authority of Pike County and Pike Chamber Position

Business leaders are moving into the second phase of their search for a professional executive to lead The Development Authority of Pike County and Pike County Chamber of Commerce. Candidates who submitted resumes for the position are now in the process of completing a detailed application.

“Twenty-one resumes were received for the position,” according to John Edwards, chair of the search committee. “Each candidate has now received an application that will provide us with additional information to use in screening the pool. Once the applications have been completed, each candidate will receive a weighting based on a set of skills and experiences. The top three to five candidates will be interviewed in mid-September.”

Fifteen of the candidates are from Georgia, two from Florida, and one each from California, Kentucky, Maryland and North Carolina. The candidates have a broad range of experiences, including entrepreneurs, human resource manager, and a public relations/marketing professional.

The committee received feedback from the membership of the chamber regarding key character traits they feel are most important for the new executive. Leadership, communications and organization skills were listed as the top characteristics desired. Other important traits included experience with a non-profit organization, charisma and decision-making skills. The feedback was gathered through an online survey.
Early in the selection process, the search committee established education and experience requirements for the position. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and three years experience in a leadership position at a chamber of commerce, economic development organization or related field are requirements for the applicants.

The chamber is also moving forward with a title change for the paid professional. The board of directors of the chamber voted last month to change the position from executive director to president. The title falls in line with industry standards. The membership is expected to approve the change in the next few weeks.
The key responsibilities of the president will include: provide vision, leadership and continuity for the organizations - internally and externally; serve as the lead economic and community development business champion for Pike County; develop, with the assistance of the membership and boards of both organizations, an annual or longer strategic vision that complements the mission statement; provide public relations support to the community; establish financial stability and accountability for the organizations; represent the organizations in matters that correspond with the missions; and serve as the spokesperson for the organizations.

The position was advertised through the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Association, Georgia Economic Developers Association, Southern Economic Development Council, American Chamber of Commerce Executives and personal contacts.

The deadline for submitting a resume was August 24. Applications are due September 11. The start date for the new executive will be in mid-October.

Additional members of the search committee include John Barker, III, Charles Burden, John Hanson and David Nix, Sr. Stephen Marro is serving as an ex-officio member.

The position became available when Marro was selected to serve as county manager for Pike County. The Chason Group, Inc. of Cartersville, Georgia, an executive search and strategic planning firm, is assisting with the search.