After five years as Chamber of Commerce executive director,
Sunday Minnich is stepping down as of April 26. Instead, Minnich
will act as the chamber
’s director of events and programs. During a search for a new
director, past board president Alex Kennett has agreed to act as
interim executive director and manage the operations and
office.
After five years as Chamber of Commerce executive director, Sunday Minnich is stepping down as of April 26. Instead, Minnich will act as the chamber’s director of events and programs.

During a search for a new director, past board president Alex Kennett has agreed to act as interim executive director and manage the operations and office.

Minnich said it was time to take the Chamber to a new level, and the board would be looking for someone with a more administrative and politically active background.

The Chamber organizes and produces many successful South Valley events including The Taste of Morgan Hill, The Business Expo and The Friday Night Music Series. By assigning Minnich to the job full time, the events are assured full attention.

“Sunday’s past event experience will be key to the success of Morgan Hill’s upcoming events,” said Teri Nelson, the Chamber’s board president . “The Board is confident that Sunday’s dedication and experience are the ideal fit for her new role and responsibilities.”

Minnich said, “I am very excited about this new opportunity and offering my event expertise in taking the events to a new level for the community to enjoy.”

Minnich said she asked the board for the change, saying she wanted to spend more time with her family.

“This way I can do what I love doing (programs and events),” Minnich said. “I sat on 12 committees and was involved in lots of early morning and late night meetings.”

Minnich said she will be taking a pay cut but it will be more than made up for in free time.

Minnich’s full time position will replace Michelle Naylor, who worked part time as project coordinator but has now left the chamber.

The Chamber of Commerce has continued to grow over the past several years and has begun a search for a new executive director.

During this time, Kennett will take a leave of absence from his board responsibilities to devote his community efforts to the Chamber’s daily operations.

Minnich was born in Morgan Hill, went through St. Catherine’s, Britton and Live Oak High School, and was heading toward veterinary medicine with jobs as a veterinarian’s assistant and technician while in high school. She changed her mind after seeing one too many animal abuse and neglect cases.

Her family, including husband, Brian, and son Chance, 10, cares for a menagerie of animals ranging in size from small fish to large horses. They live in Aromas.

Sunday was Miss Morgan Hill in 1980, notably run by the Chamber of Commerce.

Striking out in a new direction after high school, Minnich studied hotel management at Mission College for a semester, worked in customer service for the Marriott Corp., then opened a new hotel in Torrence for Marriott. This was good experience but proved to be too far from home so she returned to the Bay Area after a year, to work for the Santa Clara Marriott.

Minnich came to the attention of the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau when they were looking for a person with a hotel background. After 10 years with the bureau Minnich decided she needed to be closer to Morgan Hill. Her son was about to enter kindergarten and she wanted to be involved in his school life.

Fortunately, at the same time, the position of chamber executive director opened up in 1999 and she stepped inside.

“It was like coming home at last,” said Minnich.

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A staff member wrote, edited or posted this article, which may include information provided by one or more third parties.

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