The city of Columbus plans to hire Rogena Bonner as the new director for Trotter Convention Center following current director Mike Anderson’s retirement.
The city council voted unanimously at its Tuesday night meeting to offer the position to Bonner, a Tuscaloosa-based 311 call center director who previously served as Columbus municipal court senior magistrate.
City officials could not give specifics as to when Bonner will start, as she has not formally accepted their employment offer and has to pass a drug screening test. Anderson will retire March 1.
To fill Anderson’s position, the city convened a 10-person selection committee of city officials, Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO Nancy Carpenter, longtime Columbus beautification volunteer Tjajuan Boswell, United Christian Baptist Church pastor Steven James and Anderson.
Columbus Mayor Robert Smith, who was on the hiring committee, said the committee heard from seven applicants but felt that Bonner’s experience stood out.
“They all had good attributes, but I think what stood out the most was her knowledge, experience and management skills,” he said. “I think she’ll be a great asset to the city.”
In 2015, when Anderson was interviewing for his position, he was up against another candidate that city officials seriously considered for the position. Both candidates interviewed before the city council in executive session before Anderson was selected.
Bonner will inherit a fully-renovated Trotter Convention Center with a full roster of scheduled events. She will also manage the farmers market and Friendship Cemetery, book events for Riverside Park and the Old 82 Bridge and maintain city buildings. Her annual salary will be $56,400.
During Anderson’s time as director, a privacy wall on Trotter’s north-facing patio on Second Avenue was completed, adding on more lower-level space clients and vendors could use. He also implemented a system to take vendor feedback so he and his staff could make adjustments in the future. He said both additions meshed with his overall goal as director.
“We wanted to make it easier for vendors to come in and do business,” he said.
For Anderson, working with convention center staff was the best part of his time there.
“We’ve got a good team,” he said. “They all know really well what they’re doing. I just make sure they have what they need and they get it done. We all work together here. It’s really great.”
After he officially retires, Anderson and his wife, also a recent retiree, plan to travel.
“We’re going to Italy, Hawaii, maybe Australia,” he said. “I’ve been to Italy once before, so I’d like to go again.”
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