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Dade City Chamber In The Market For A New Leader

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By JEFF SCULLIN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 21, 2008

DADE CITY - Finding someone to run the local chamber of commerce can be a tall order.

You need someone who can plan events, boost local merchants' visibility in a down economy, establish ties in the community without getting embroiled in its turf battles, lead the hometown cheering section and keep happy a demanding set of bosses - business owners accustomed to running the show.

In replacing their executive director, officials at the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce will start with the more than 40 resumes they collected months ago when they were replacing longtime director Phyllis Smith.

"We're just retracing our steps and hitting those resumes before we open it back up or anything," chamber President Missy Lea said Wednesday. "I think we've learned by moving real quick last time that we need to take our time."

Tony Lister, who was hired as the chamber's executive director in April, announced his resignation Monday.

"Due to unanticipated personal and family issues, I will be unable to fully dedicate myself to the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce for an extended period of time," he wrote in an e-mail.
Lister said he plans to remain full time through Wednesday and part time after that, if needed.

He did not return calls seeking comment.

Lea said she hopes to narrow down the list of candidates to be interviewed in the next two weeks. If chamber officials can't find their candidate among the resumes they have, they will advertise locally for the job, she said.

Lister, 37, taught American government, economics and history at Wesley Chapel High before signing on with the chamber, where he had been a board member.

In 2005, he was elected unopposed to the San Antonio City Commission.

Despite his early departure, Lea said Lister was a good fit.

"We made the right choice last time, but it was just something that didn't work out," she said.

"We have to accept that, so we have."

Smith resigned in March after 21 years with the chamber, which organizes the annual Kumquat Festival, Christmas parade and other events. Chamber officials said they planned to take two or three months to replace her after she ran afoul of some board members over the way she ran the organization.

Having to replace Lister won't affect planning for the Kumquat Festival or other events, Lea said Wednesday.

"We won't have the same as we had prior," she said. "Phyllis was one of a kind. Change is good, but it's going to take time."

Editor Jeff Scullin can be reached at (813) 779-4614 or jscullin@tampatrib.com.

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