The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Tammy Scott to fill in as Crested Butte-Mt. Crested Butte executive director
The Crested Butte-Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce board of directors is reaching out to its sister chamber in Gunnison for some transition help. The two chambers have entered into a contract to utilize longtime Gunnison Country Chamber executive director Tammy Scott to help run the Crested Butte organization.
“She will act as a part-time, temporary executive director,” explained Crested Butte-Mt. Crested Butte Chamber board president Sara Morgan. “Her role will be a combination of administrative and consultative duties.”
Scott will spend about 10 hours a week for the next three or four months helping the north end of the valley chamber get its affairs in order after the separation from former executive director Richard Bond last summer.
According to Morgan, Scott’s responsibilities will include staff oversight, working with staff on recommendations to the board that align policy and procedure, and organizational effectiveness.
Morgan said, “In addition to running a chamber and visitor’s center in Gunnison for 20-plus years, Tammy has a tremendous amount of HR experience that the board thinks will add value.
“It seemed like an obvious short-term, temporary solution to our situation,” continued Morgan. “She has run a visitor’s center and chamber. She should be a good fit. It’s sort of like what the Gunnison Arts Center is doing with Crested Butte Center for the Arts executive director Jennie Birnie. She is consulting with them to help them out.”
Scott has done some similar consulting with other organizations. “It is hard on a staff and an organization without an executive director in place,” explained Scott. “I think there are some things we can do right away that will be helpful. The chamber has been through a rough time. If we can help them refocus, look at their policies and procedures with a fresh set of eyes, look at the staff and see what everyone is doing, get the organization back on track, that’s the type of help they probably need at the moment. It gives the board a chance to regroup, look at the budget and focus on direction.”
Scott said December timing is always a little uncertain, given the number of events going on around the holidays. “But I’ll be up in the office at least ten hours a week,” she said. “Once we hit January, I’ll probably be there two days a week for five hours a day.”
Scott said her board is supportive of the move. The two chambers have worked together on several events and projects.
“I’m hopeful this will be a good partnership,” said Scott. “It’s a bit exciting when you think you can help someone. It’s busy down here in Gunnison too, but you can do anything for three or four months.”
Morgan is confident Scott will help relieve some of the pressure the chamber is experiencing. “We as a board are developing a list of priorities for her to tackle,” Morgan said.
The board sees Scott as a resource to alleviate some burden on staff and the board. “This support will allow the board to work on the strategic direction of the organization, including its finances. Her ultimate on-site schedule is to be worked out,” said Morgan.
“The contract is with the Gunnison chamber,” explained Morgan, “so this action has the full support endorsement of her board. We will be compensating the Gunnison chamber on an hourly basis for [Scott’s] services.
Scott will officially start her part-time duties as the Crested Butte-Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce executive director on Thursday, December 8.
