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Highlands Today

Interim chosen as Sebring chamber president

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

The board of directors of the chamber voted last week to remove the "interim" from Greg Harris' title as of Oct. 5.

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By BILL ROGERS

Highlands Today

Published: September 29, 2009

SEBRING - The Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce believes Greg Harris is the right man to lead the organization, and it has decided to discontinue searching for a permanent president/CEO.

The board of directors of the chamber voted last week to remove the "interim" from Harris' title as of Oct. 5.

"We're very pleased with his performance and pleased with his rapport with the community and the membership," said David Noel, chairman of the chamber board of directors.

"We think we have found the right man and found the leadership we need," Noel added.

Noel said Monday that a contractual agreement is pending with Harris. Noel expects the contract to be finalized this week.

"I think it is a great relationship; it has worked out well," Harris said.

Harris said he has set five goals for next year. They are: promote the membership; build a strong financial base; grow the membership by 20 percent; repair relationships that were damaged and analyze all of the fundraisers.

Regarding fundraisers, Harris said the chamber is looking at different things. He noted that it will no longer put on a summer golf tournament.

The chamber will focus on the Heartland Triathlon, which is held in July.

One project Harris is now involved in is extending the hours at the chamber's old office located on the Circle in downtown Sebring. He hopes that will happen this fall.

Harris said he doesn't know what the hours will be, but he knows the office will be open longer than the current schedule of 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The Highlands County Genealogical Society has members in the office during that time.

More people will be needed to man the office when the hours are increased. Harris said some members of the chamber board are interested in having people who work in their businesses spend time at the downtown chamber office.

"We have some huge challenges," Harris said.

Harris is replacing Sarah Pallone, who resigned earlier this year to take a position with Habitat for Humanity in Highlands County.

Bill Rogers may be reached at386-5825 or wrogers@highlandstoday.com

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