Venture Kamloops still needs a boss

By Jeremy Deutsch - Kamloops This Week Published: May 26, 2009

Energetic and works well with others. These are just a couple of the qualities Venture Kamloops (VK) is looking for in its new boss. The economic-development arm for the city is actively looking for an executive director to replace former CEO Gail Scott, who was fired in March. So far, VK has been advertising for the position extensively in B.C. and Alberta. Chris Ortner, president of VK’s board of directors, said the decision to change the title of the position to executive director came out of the search for its last CEO. He said VK found respondents for the CEO position had a different expectation of salary and roles and responsibilities than the job entails. Ortner said executive director is a more realistic match for the position. “Let’s face it, an organization with four employees doesn’t really need a title similar to General Motors,” he told KTW. Ortner is expecting a lot of resumés to come in, suggesting now is a good time to be looking for people. But whoever does end up getting the job, they will have to have an ability to co-operate and excite people with new ideas.

“To move Kamloops to a new place that’s well-positioned to survive the current downturn and be poised to take advantage of opportunities that do exist even now,” Ortner said. Finding a new director is just part of a restructuring for VK. The organization’s contract with the city expires at the end of the year, and its directors are putting a new strategic plan together in hopes of securing another five-year mandate. Ortner said the new VK will focus on attracting business to Kamloops, while collaborating with other business-service providers in the city.The bulk of VK’s funding — $464,000 a year — comes from the city. VK’s board is composed of members of the business community, including city councillors John O’Fee and Tina Lange.