Now that the president and CEO of the DeKalb Chamber is taking a job in Atlanta, the business networking organization will have to find a new leader.
Katerina Taylor's last day at the Chamber of Commerce is Oct. 16. Two weeks later, she will start her new job as the executive director of WorkSource Atlanta, the city's problem-ridden job training agency.
The Chamber’s Board of Directors has a short window in which they need to make some key decisions. Who will be interim president? How will they conduct a search to find a new permanent leader?
The board doesn’t have answers yet and declined to provide a timeline.
“As we prepare for the next chapter we will use this opportunity to strengthen the mission and vision for the Chamber and find new ways to drive value for our members and key stakeholders,” its members said in a statement.
Taylor became the DeKalb Chamber president five years ago after a five-month stint as the interim leader. The city of Atlanta announced her hiring on Monday, and on Tuesday she sent a message to Chamber supporters thanking them for the chance to serve.
“We've worked to keep DeKalb a pro-business county, engaging with our elected officials and DeKalb delegation and helping our small businesses establish relationships with key decision-makers,” she said. “... I will take my same passion for people, economic development and workforce development to the City of Atlanta.”
Despite her new position, Taylor said she will not drop her campaign to restore the original name of Commerce Drive in downtown Decatur. A portion of that road was once named Oliver Street after a successful African-American businessman who died in 1906.
At the Chamber’s request and without the community’s input, the street name was changed in 1984.
Read more | Atlanta names new head of troubled workforce training program
Also | Chamber leader says Decatur street name erased vital links to past, community
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