Cookeville-Putnam Chamber Moves To Next Phase In President Search

The Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce will move to the next phase in selecting a new president.

Vice President of Visitor Development Zach Ledbetter said the Chamber’s steering committee will meet in August to review applications.

“Once that takes place with the applicants that met the required qualifications, an initial group of candidates will be scheduled for some video interviews,” Ledbetter said. “Following those initial interviews with that group, a second round of in-person interviews will be scheduled with those candidates moving forward.”

The application process of the Chamber’s search concluded Wednesday. A total number of applicants has not been made available at this time.

Ledbetter said the interview process will include community visits with qualified applicants and their spouses as they meet with local officials.

“The plan – or hope, rather – is to extend an offer to a candidate by mid-fourth quarter,” Ledbetter said, “and then at that point an official announcement will take place once that’s confirmed.”

The search comes after current Chamber President George Halford announced his retirement earlier this year. An official date has not been set for the Chamber’s steering committee meeting.