Dannah McCullough, executive director of the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, was let go Tuesday morning, shortly after Steve Bristow, the president of the board, announced his resignation.
According to Eric Marshall, interim executive director, the two changes in leadership are unrelated.
Bristow stood up and thanked the board at Tuesday’s meeting, saying it was a pleasure to serve for the past nine years, Marshall said.
A press release acknowledged Bristow and McCullough’s contributions and efforts during their time with the Chamber.
McCullough declined a request for comment, and Bristow did not respond.
The changes resulted in some shuffling in roles among the board members. Selene Muldowney-Stratton took over as president, Marcia Fakkema became the vice president and Teri Mendiola took the role of secretary.
The press release states the leadership changes mark a new direction for the organization, but Marshall said the change of leadership is the entirety of the new direction. Ongoing programs, upcoming events and day-to-day operations will remain the same.
As interim director, Marshall plans on supporting staff and making sure they succeed in their duties, he said.
“They’re fully competent, capable staff, and they know what to do,” he said. “I’m just going to try to empower them as best I can to be successful.”
Marshall had originally applied for McCullough’s position during the hiring process last year, but due to concerns of conflicts of interest with his role as a city council member he took a position with I-COM Emergency Dispatch in October, he said.
He stepped up to be the interim director to “help the chamber out,” he said, but there is no discussion at this point in terms of compensation, and he does not intend on leaving his new position at I-COM.
Marshall said he is more focused on making sure upcoming events, such as next month’s Cupid Courier and this year’s Awards Banquet, are successful.
A hiring committee is being formed, and Marshall is confident in its ability to find the next director, he said.
“I’m just trying to support staff right now to make sure that they’re comfortable in the transition and understand there’s no risk to them,” he said. “We’re not cutting. We’re not letting anybody else go.”