FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2008
Contact Information:
Dallas Hunt
Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce
229-382-6200
Tim Chason
The Chason Group, Inc.
404-735-0540

Leaders of Community Working As One Team to Select New Chamber Executive

Business, community and government leaders from across Tift County will be selecting the next president and chief executive officer for the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce. A wide variety of representatives, ranging from locally owned small businesses to large distribution centers, have started their search for the new executive. Serving as Chair of the Search Committee is Dallas Hunt of GM Services, Inc. (Shoney’s, Captain D’s, and Checkers)

“The leadership of our community has pulled together as one team to find the right person to lead the chamber and economic development initiatives in Tifton and Tift County,” according to Hunt. “The Search Committee represents almost every sector of the business, government and civic communities. Their backgrounds will provide a great deal of insight over the next few months as we select a professional to take the helm of the chamber.”

One of the first priorities for the committee was to establish a successful operating model for the chamber and economic development. The search committee is moving forward to select a President with a successful economic development track record, excellent communications skills, and outstanding organizational team building talents. The Vice President of Operations will handle most of the day-to-day management of the chamber with oversight and guidance from the President.

Another of the priorities of the committee was to establish a timeline for the search process. Over the next few weeks, chamber members will have an opportunity to complete an online survey relating to the search and overall role of the organization. The input will play a major role in determining character traits desired by the membership of the President. The community is encouraged to participate in the survey by logging on to the chamber’s website at www.tiftonchamber.org.

One-on-one stakeholder interviews with key elected and appointed leaders will occur during the next month. The stakeholders will include local leaders and statewide economic development representatives from the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Power Company and Georgia EMC.

At the same time the survey and stakeholder interviews are being conducted, advertisements for the position will be posted online with the American Chamber of Commerce Executives Association, Georgia Economic Developers Association, Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and Southern Economic Development Corporation. Other sources of candidates are also being utilized such as contacts with government and economic development agencies.

“Each candidate will be handled in a confidential and professional manner,” says Hunt. “This search process will be just as much Tift County selling our attributes to the candidates as it will be the candidates convincing the committee they are the right person for the position.”

Each person submitting a resume will receive an informational package on the chamber and community. Following the deadline for resumes, a detailed application will be sent to each candidate asking for their experience in certain areas, such as economic development and strategic planning.

“The application is extremely important to the overall process,” says Hunt. “A resume normally provides basic information on a candidate. The application will allow the committee to have a better understanding of the experience level of a person in the areas in which we are most interested.”

Once all applications have been received, a weighting scale will be used to identify the candidates most qualified for the post. Three to five candidates will most likely be interviewed in April. The target start date for the successful candidate is mid-May.

“Our goal is to find the most qualified person to lead the chamber and not let the timeline run the process,” added Hunt. “Taking a close look at each candidate, talking with many of them and conducting background research is more important than a timeline.”

Other members of the Search Committee include: Lawton Bassett, Ameris; William Bowen, Bowen Farms; Bennie Branch, Kelly Manufacturing Company; David Bridges of ABAC; Jim Carter, County Manager for Tift County Board of Commissioners; Jamie Cater, Mayor of City of Tifton; Homer Day, Professional Court Services; Carla Hall, WorkSmart; Mark Hand, Turner Distribution; Dave Hetzel, Councilman for City of Tifton; Julie Hunt, JH Services; Lynn Lovett, Georgia Power Company; Cal McMillan, First Community Bank; Jack Perry, Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce; John Prince, Prince Chevrolet; Buck Rigdon, Commissioner for Tift County; Greg Sowell, Sowell, Sandifer, & Richburg; Beverly Sterling Plant Telecommunications; Grady Thompson, Commissioner for Tift County; Shawn Utley, Moultrie Tech; and Mike Vollmer, City Manager for City of Tifton.

In order to keep the community’s economic development initiatives moving forward, Jack Perry has been named interim President/Economic Development Coordinator for the chamber. He was Chairman of the organization in 1983 and retired as District Manager of Georgia Power Company in 1996. Linda Floyde, a long-time member of the chamber’s professional staff, will continue her role as Director of Operations. Her duties will include working with small businesses, committees and other chamber programs.

The Chason Group, based in Cartersville, Georgia, is assisting the committee with the search. Tim Chason, president of the company, served for ten years as President of the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce and ten years as Chief Operating Officer of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. He has conducted successful executive level searches in several communities across the state including Cumming-Forsyth County, Jackson County, Thomaston-Upson County, and Cartersville-Bartow County.