December 13, 2013 at 8:56 a.m.
Reed leaving Rhinelander chamber
Reed leaving Rhinelander chamber
Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lara Reed has announced her resignation effective Jan. 10.
Reed gave her notice to chamber board members Friday. She said she has accepted a position with Ministry Medical Group as a marketing account manager.
"I have truly enjoyed my time at the chamber and am proud of the work we have accomplished in the last three years," she said in a press release announcing her departure.
Reed has served as the chamber's executive director since May 2011.
The chamber will begin searching for a new director as soon as possible, said board president Erin Skinner.
"We'll post the job both locally and then there's a state chamber website, that sort of thing, and probably contact the Department of Tourism also and let them know. They were really helpful the last time around when we looked for a director," Skinner said. "The way we did it in the past is we put together a hiring committee and then we work as a group - there was probably a dozen of us when (former chamber director) Kim Swisher had resigned - and we go through an interviewing process."
The board is scheduled to meet Wednesday at which time a firm transition plan will be formulated, Skinner added.
"I can assure (the public) that the Board of Directors and the staff at the chamber will continue to work to keep the work, programs and progress of the chamber moving forward," said Skinner. "More information will be provided to our membership as it becomes available and we work through the hiring process."
Skinner said a temporary office manager may be hired to shepherd the chamber during the transition but it will be up to the board to make that call.
"Last time we ended up hiring an interim office manager to help us out in between because the president of the chamber has a full-time job," she said.
"Again, because we haven't put together anything yet, ... I don't know for sure what we'll set for a time frame. It takes time to get good candidates and to weed through everything. It'll be a months-long process for sure, but obviously we don't want to leave the chamber kind of on its own, but the staff that's there is great. They've been there for a number of years now and can definitely hold down the fort in the interim."
Skinner thanked Reed for her service to the community and praised her for steering the chamber in a more positive direction.
"Lara's been fantastic," she said. "I'm very, very sad to see her go because she has done an excellent job. When she came into the chamber, things were starting to move in the right direction, but it had been struggling a little bit in years prior. Our financials are in good shape, our events are running well - she's got some new events that she's started and she's got some new things getting going into the future. She's done great. It's going to be tough losing her, big time. She's a huge asset to the chamber and to the whole Rhinelander area."
Marcus Nesemann may be reached at [email protected].
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