CRESTVIEW — Wayne Harris’ June 12 announcement that he is resigning as the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce's president and CEO has the organization stepping up plans to find his successor sooner than expected.
Harris, who originally planned to resign in June 2016, said his campaign for state Rep. Matt Gaetz’s seat would distract him from his duties at North Okaloosa County’s largest business organization.
“If I intend to be successful in my House race, I need to be able to devote 100 percent of my efforts towards my campaign, and that would be truly unfair to the chamber, to the staff and more importantly, to the members,” Harris said in his resignation letter. “I believe it would be morally and professionally wrong do otherwise.”
NO RUSH
Chamber Chairman of the Board Alicia Booker said given Harris’ 15 years of experience and invaluable understanding of the organization’s culture, the board of directors will not rush to hire his successor.
“Because it’s such an important decision, we want to make sure we take our time and find the right candidate, so we’re not putting a deadline in place and limiting ourselves in that way,” Booker said.
Meanwhile, she said, it will be business as usual at the chamber of commerce. Office manager Valerie Lott and executive assistant Jennifer Pierce “will continue with day-to-day operations and, of course, they have the executive board to support them,” Booker said.
The board is forming a search committee, which, when seated, will then prepare a job description for Harris’ position, Booker said.
‘WE’RE GOOD’
“Wayne did such an outstanding job,” Booker said. “That is why it is so important that we have our criteria set and establish everything we want in a new president and CEO so we can fill the position with the appropriate person.”
“We’re good,” Chairman-elect Marian McBryde said. “Anything we do will be in the best interests of the chamber.”
Harris is using accumulated vacation time between his resignation announcement and June 30 departure, but “these will be working vacation days because … I don’t want to just walk away and leave things hanging," he said.
Harris said while he is gearing up to “take care of the foolishness that’s been going on in Tallahassee,” he will be “a phone call away” if chamber of commerce board members or office personnel need his expertise.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Chamber seeks new CEO; Harris leaving earlier than expected to focus on House run