Ozark chamber selects new director

Last edited 2:30 p.m., Dec. 10, 2015

The Ozark Chamber of Commerce selected a new executive director to succeed Dori Grinder.

The board picked Andrea Sitzes, who most recently worked as sales manager for John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts’ Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa & Convention Center for over four years, according to a news release.

Effective Dec. 14, Sitzes will take over for Grinder, who started last month as membership manager for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. Grinder had held the Ozark post since 2010.

“Sitzes possesses the leadership, marketing experience and the energy that we were looking for,” said Ozark chamber board Chairman Devin Bobbett, commercial relationship manager for The Bank of Missouri, in the release. “We are confident she can build on the success and momentum that the Ozark chamber is experiencing.”

Jane Paul, co-owner of Ozark indoor gun range Sound of Freedom USA LLC, served as interim director of the chamber for the past month as the board searched for Grinder’s successor.

“This was invaluable during this transition period,” Bobbett said.

Paul said the chamber received around 14 applications and narrowed the candidate poll down to four before choosing Sitzes.

At Chateau on the Lake, the hotel last month hired Nathan Wood as director of sales and marketing, according to a separate release.

Wood, who is looking to hire Sitzes' successor, comes to Chateau on the Lake from The Westin Columbus in Ohio, where he held the same job title.