Two weeks into his new job leading the Chamber of Commerce, Alex
Kennett describes the situation as
“interesting.”
Two weeks into his new job leading the Chamber of Commerce, Alex Kennett describes the situation as “interesting.”
The former Chamber board president took over April 19 on an interim basis for Execu-tive Director Sunday Minnich when she asked to oversee, instead, the Chamber’s events. Kennett said things were running well and he was spending most of his time meeting Chamber members.
“A lot of members called and want to meet me and chat,” Kennett said Thursday. “I’m spending time at Betsy’s or in coffee shops just listening.”
He said the members are not complaining, they just want to be heard.
“People want to be an active part of something like the Chamber,” Kennett said, “and I’m giving them that chance.”
Kennett, who will be paid $3,000 a month during his temporary tenure as director, said he is making a few other changes at Chamber headquarters, mostly to increase public service. He has hired Garrie Bryant, former Chamber Volunteer of the Year, to beef up a staff that has been stretched a bit thin.
“I’m making sure we have front desk coverage,” Kennett said. “It’s a priority that somebody be there to greet the public when they come in.”
The Chamber of Commerce is located between the Downtown Mall and the Granada Theater, at 17450 Monterey Road and is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Besides handling member issues the Chamber office sells clothing and gift items with the Morgan Hill logo.
Minnich will be taking a pay cut from $64,000 to $40,000 a year but, Kennett said, she might actually end up making more. Programs and Events directors get a part of the net profits from each event, an incentive to make them as successful as possible. The Taste of Morgan Hill, Business Expo and Friday Night Music Series are three of the Chamber’s annual events.
Kennett said the Chamber board of directors, headed this year by Teri Nelson, will search for a new executive director, one who will be comfortable in the world of politics and administration. In the meantime, he said he is making himself useful.
Kennett, a retired U.S. Army colonel, recently sold a long-time, successful business, Gavilan Kennett Roepke, a food supply service, and has launched Solutions, a consulting firm giving business advice.
Details: www.morganhill.org or 779-9444.
