PORT TOWNSEND — The Chamber of Commerce board is expected to offer a chamber executive director position to one of four finalists Thursday after the board heard presentations from each on Tuesday.
Three are from Port Townsend. They are technology consultant David Brader, Realtor and school board member John Eissinger, and past chamber business leader of the year Bruce McComas, the former Port Townsend Paper Corporation general manager.
Rod Davis, who has 20 years of chamber management experience in three cities, was the lone out-of-town finalist.
“We really want to bring it to the board on Thursday,” said Jennifer MacGillonie, 2007 chamber president and board executive committee member, who has been acting as chamber manager.
“We want the chamber board to talk to us.”
The new chamber director will succeed Tim Caldwell, who resigned after 16 years on the job to accept a Port Townsend office manager position with Puget Sound Energy.
After hearing answers to prepared written questions given to the candidates before Tuesday, chamber board members — and stakeholders such as Mayor Michele Sandoval, Deputy Mayor George Randels and City Manager David Timmons — took a secret straw poll.
The 21-member board will discuss the poll before possibly taking a vote on the hiring of a new chamber manager on Thursday. The decision must be made with a two-thirds majority.
During presentations at Fort Worden State Park Commons, the finalists answered written questions about advising prospective retailers, how they would attract new members and the importance of branding, image and marketing.
They also addressed the chamber director’s role in creating jobs and business opportunities and improving the chambers online presence.
Improving the chamber’s Web site and using it more to more effectively market Port Townsend was a high priority with all four finalists.
