February 3, 2010 - 581 words
Gray looking forward to heading up Chamber
MIKE NEUMANN - The Woodstock Independent
Growing up in Vermont, Shari Gray -the new interim executive director at the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce and Industry -- was surrounded by towns that resembled Woodstock.
"Woodstock looks like a typical Vermont town," Gray said. The small stores and the small business owners, that's how I grew up. It's kind of neat that I'm here."
Gray moved to the county about 13 years ago after her husband took a job in the area. In January 2003, Gray became the assistant executive director at the chamber -- a position she held for six years under two executive directors, Quinn Keefe and Laura Siebold.
Gray said about eight months after she was hired, Siebold and the chamber board decided to part ways after disagreements about the direction the chamber should take.
Once Keefe was hired, the chamber was rejuvenated, she said, and the momentum from the membership was apparent once again. Keefe resigned in August.
Gray said she feels the chamber is in a similar transition today, and that, while the momentum has stalled, the chamber is beginning a new phase. Though she said she recognizes that the transition has been a difficult one -- with more than $180,000 in mortgage debt on the chamber-owned building and an additional $15,000 in debt -- she said the changes will ultimately help the chamber in the long term.
"We're kind of starting in that (positive) direction again," she said. Since August, the chamber has reduced its debt in half, excluding the mortgage. While this is mostly due to the reduction in salary and benefits, Gray said she agrees with the board that staff reductions were necessary.
"There's been some tough decisions that have been made," Gray said.
When asked how she responds to the idea that turnover, particularly on the board, gives the impression that the chamber is unstable, Gray said the board members that remain are some of the hardest working board members she has worked with. She said the addition of community leaders Jenny Serritella and Jim Campion to the board will complement the board's abilities.
"They bring some integrity to the chamber board," Gray said.
Gray said she and the chamber board have similar visions -- a component she feels is crucial to success. Gray said meeting members and increasing communication is an important key to stability.
She said regular meetings and workshops that matter to the membership must be developed. Events or programs that don't work or that the membership is not interested in must be discontinued, Gray said.
To learn what is important to members and what isn't, Gray said input and participation is needed from the membership.
"We need to get people who are willing to step in and take a management role," Gray said, noting that reinforcing chamber committees is key. "We need (programs) that are worthwhile to membership and financially smart."
Gray plans to create partnerships during her time as interim executive director, saying that an active chamber is a successful chamber. She said she is prepared to stay in the position as long as needed.
"I'm in it for the long haul," Gray said. "It's going to take some time, but we're headed in the right direction."
Under Gray's leadership, the chamber offices will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday. Gray said she will work some additional hours as needed.
Todd Kinker, interim chamber board president, said members of the chamber board and volunteers may keep the offices open some additional hours when needed.
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