The Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau board voted 7-1 Monday to give interim director Nancy Carpenter the top job at the CVB.
The board came out of recess to make its surprise decision during the afternoon session of a board retreat Monday at the Fairfield Inn.
Just before the vote, board member Whirllie Byrd — who cast the only “no” vote — successfully petitioned the board to go into executive session to discuss some personnel issues she had that involved Carpenter.
“I have reason to believe Nancy is not the best person for the job,” Byrd said then, holding up a stack of documents she said could “delay” a vote.
Byrd said Carpenter had recently fired an part-time employee for “vague reasons,” and that the board”s decision was “rushed.”
“I don”t like her management style,” Byrd continued. “It”s too personal and can adversely affect good employees. Because of the way she has treated other people, I question her leadership abilities.”
Byrd, who likened herself to the “Lone Ranger,” said she would have “preferred a search.”
But board member DeWitt Hicks Jr., who made the motion to promote Carpenter, said there was no reason to begin a costly search when a qualified candidate was already in the position.
“I think Nancy Carpenter took this job at a very challenging time,” Hicks told the board. “I think she”s done a very good job.”
His motion, which was seconded by Rissa Lawrence, was contingent on the board getting an attorney”s opinion that it was not legally required to advertise for the position.
After the vote, Board Chairman George Swales jokingly warned Carpenter, “You”ll be sorry.”
“I”m not going to be sorry,” Carpenter replied. “I”m going to take this (organization) to great heights.”
After the meeting, Carpenter said she was pleasantly surprised by the board”s decision.
“I”m just very humbled by the vote and the trust (board members) have placed in me,” she said.
Carpenter”s new title doesn”t immediately come with a raise to her roughly $63,000 salary. The board is still banging out its budget for the upcoming fiscal year, so her pay will be a topic in September meetings.
She has filled the position since February, when former executive director James Tsismanakis, who made $90,000 per year, left to head the DeKalb, Ga., CVB.
Carpenter joined the CVB as a project manager in 2008, when the Cultural Heritage Foundation, of which she was director, was incorporated into the CVB”s Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation.
Carpenter said she brings 30 years of experience in sales and marketing at banks to the CVB.
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