Stedman resigns from chamber position

Board of Directors for the Mount Pleasant-Titus County Chamber of Commerce are now in search of a new president and CEO following the official resignation of Katie Stedman at the June 26 regular meeting.

   For almost four years, Stedman has led the Chamber which currently represents some 485 members. She is now stepping down from the executive position to pursue other professional endeavors.

   “It just feels like the right time to transition to other things,” said Stedman as she addressed the board. “It has been a true honor to serve as president and CEO of the Chamber for the past almost four years and I really appreciate all of the support I have received from each one of you and this community.”

   Stedman, who succeeded Faustine Curry, moved with her husband, Edward, and two children to Mount Pleasant after working in Houston. The Colorado native officially took the Mount Pleasant position Aug. 31, 2015.

   After accepting Stedman’s resignation at the morning meeting, board members then approved a search committee comprised of current and former board members as well as representatives of the Chamber membership. The board also approved hiring an executive search firm that will be managing the process to find Stedman’s successor.  Stedman has offered to remain in her current position for the foreseeable future.

   “I am happy to be as flexible as I can possibly be in order to help ensure a smooth transition and to offer as much support as possible to both the board and the staff over the next several weeks,” she said. “I know that the number one priority right now is to get the right person in and trained hopefully before the fall events start to happen; that’s a very busy time of the year for the Chamber.”

   For Courtney Dyer, Chamber Board of Directors Chair, the announcement is bittersweet.

    “Katie has had a huge impact on this community as President and CEO,” Dyer said. “Her influence on her staff, this board and everyone she came in to contact with has been far-reaching. She will be greatly missed by so many, but we truly wish her the very best.”

   “As a board, we voted on a five-member search committee that will work hand in hand with the search firm to begin the process,” Dyer said. “From there, we hope to make a hire based on the final recommendation and have that person in place by mid fall.”