Fairfield-Echo.com

The next Fairfield Chamber president will ideally meet five of the 12 characteristics of what a state chamber organization says is important for any president.

The Chamber of Commerce Executives of Ohio competency model was used as a guide to develop the job description that had been released over this past weekend by the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, said board chair Neal Gray.

Gray admits the next president may not completely fit into the job description.

"It's a matter for feeling through the collection of applicants and identifying not only on paper, but who feels right to be that next person," he said.

Former chamber president Ginger Shawver resigned her position as president on March 6 "to seek new opportunities." Gray has handled many of the duties of the president, although he said he is not the interim president.

Gray said the search committee had assistance from the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Ohio assist in setting up the search process. B.J. Wiberg, CCEO president and chief executive, said he wished more chambers would bring in his organization to assist not only in looking for a new day-to-day leaders, but help them focus goals and missions.

"The chamber has a very strong vision and mission, and that helps a lot," Wiberg said of the Fairfield Chamber. "The process we went through confirmed where the chamber needs to go and continues to move.

Wiberg said it makes it less political and more objective.

Gray said after the application deadline on May 16, the chamber's search committee will interview eight to 10 candidates. Then the board will vote on two to three finalists.

"We hope to have someone in house by the first of July," Gray said.

The annual salary of the president is between $50,000 and $65,000 with bonus potential, according to the job description.

For more information on the job or job description, visit FairfieldChamber.com.

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5112 or mpitman@coxohio.com.

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