Bernardi leaving chamber; search group for president gives up

THE Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce’s leadership void is about to get much bigger. Having searched for a new president without success since Shane Short resigned Aug. 15, 2012, the chamber is about to lose its director of economic development. Courtney Bernardi announced her resignation last week, effective April 12. She is reportedly taking a similar job in Newton County.
Meanwhile, the chamber’s search committee for the position of president is “officially disbanded,” chairman Mark Valentine revealed last Friday as his board of directors met, leaving the chamber’s executive committee searching for an interim president and trying to create a new search committee.