Branson, Springfield chambers of commerce await new leadership

Fall is a time of change and folks at the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce know that better than most. As the leaves change colors, the institutions are in the middle of leadership transitions, albeit at different stages.

Late last month, Branson chamber President and CEO Ross Summers announced a retirement date of Oct. 3. Summers plans to remain involved with the organizations in a consulting role until a successor is named, likely in early 2015.

In June, 26-year Springfield Chamber President and CEO Jim Anderson stepped down and after the conclusion of a six-month search process, former Springfield Home Builders Association leader Matt Morrow was selected in August to fill the void. Morrow, who left town in late 2012 to take the position of executive vice president of the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders, has been traveling between the two cities and now expects to be on the job full time at the Springfield chamber by Nov. 17.

Down season
Branson chamber board Chairman Steve Critchfield said last week the board is reaching out to a few search firms – including Cleveland, Ohio-based Waverly Partners LLC that was contracted for the Springfield chamber’s top spot – to help identify qualified candidates.

Critchfield said Summers has real estate in the Branson area he wants to develop, and after 12 years in leading the chamber and its partnering convention and visitors bureau, he felt the time was right to step down. Summers did not return Springfield Business Journal’s calls and emails for comment by press time.

“I think all these jobs have a shelf life somewhere along the way,” Critchfield said, adding with the tourist season largely over, the timing was right to make a move. “If you’re going to look for somebody, this is probably the best time of year to do it.”

He said because Summers is staying on in a consulting role – he is still accessible to the board and chamber and CVB staff – so a notice measured in months as Anderson did in Springfield was not necessary.

“I think it probably gets tiresome to have to go to stuff four nights a week. You probably want to stay home once in awhile,” he said. “I think his wife had some health issues, and she’s doing great now, but that makes you kind of reassess everything.”

Lynn Berry, director of communications for the Branson/Lakes Area Convention & Visitors Bureau who worked with Summers for eight years, said she was not surprised to see him leave. She said many who knew him well saw this coming.

“After the (Tourism Community Enhancement District) tax was renewed in April, there was an air of completion,” Berry said. “We have worked very closely and traveled many miles together representing Branson, and I knew what business interests he does have. And following the economic downturn, I know it was time to see things change on his personal business front.”

Both Critchfield and Berry declined to disclose any specific details of Summers’ real estate interest. Berry said Summers built a solid staff capable of running things in his absence.

“He was very much an easygoing guy who selected individuals at the director level to really lead in their own direction,” she said, citing Summers’ hiring last year of CVB Chief Marketing Officer Leah Chandler.

Springfield dynamics
Rob Dixon, executive vice president and interim president at the Springfield chamber, said there have been challenges in not having the steady hand of Anderson in place. Even so, Dixon said Morrow has been involved in key aspects of organizational guidance such as board meetings, and Dixon feels the overall transition has been smooth so far. “Obviously, we have not gone through a leadership change like this in 26 years. It’s a new process for our chamber. It’s a new process for the community, certainly. It’s a new process for our members,” Dixon said.

“It creates a sense of uncertainty when you have a leadership transition but the thing that has brought a smoothness and seamlessness to our transition is the quality of our staff.”

Originally planning to move into the chamber office in mid-October, Morrow is not yet settled in.

He’s making the nine-hour drive between jobs about every other week and left Birmingham again on Oct. 8 to join chamber, business and civic leaders in the annual Community Leadership Visit. This year, the group of 62 left Oct. 9 for Omaha, Neb. “There is always something going on I would like to be a part of,” Morrow said, adding he is picking his spots, such as a recent staff retreat and an upcoming board retreat. “The car knows the trip well.”

Those who have worked closely with Morrow and the chamber said the upside to the long transition is the good fit Anderson’s successor provides.

“He came through a process in which we vetted over 100 solid applications and received over 500 inquiries,” said chamber board Chairman-elect Tom Hilmes of CNH Reman LLC, pointing to Morrow’s experience with the Springfield HBA that got him recruited to an HBA nearly four times larger in Alabama. “We talked to those guys, too, and they hated to lose him. In fact, he’s still going through the transition because they asked for 90 days’ [notice], which is unusual.”

Morrow acknowledged he’s no Anderson.

“Those big shoes can’t be filled,” Morrow said. “We’re just going to do the best job we know how to do.”

Era of cooperation?
As for the qualities of the next leader in Branson, Critchfield said the organizations – which combined have an operating budget exceeding $9 million – need a focus on fiscal responsibility, political savvy and marketing knowledge.

“It’s a tough job, and it takes a lot of stamina,” Critchfield said, adding economic development experience also would be a plus. “It’s not an easy find.”

Linda Merkling, general manager of the Starlite Theatre who has been involved with both chambers and the Springfield HBA under Morrow, said she hopes the new blood could create opportunities for regional cooperation.

“There are new ideas flowing and I think the two towns will be able to pull closer and work better together,” she said. “There are new people coming in and some exciting changes that could happen.”