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Chamber head resigns post
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
After only a few months on the job, Terri Jo Neff has resigned as executive director of the Benson/San Pedro Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Kim Lockhart, president of the chamber, said Neff resigned during a regular board meeting last week for personal reasons. Neff did not submit a letter of resignation, but informed the board in person, she said.
Neff had started working part time for the chamber in August, and moved to full time in October.
"The board has accepted the resignation of Terri Jo Neff as executive director," Lockhart said in a statement. "Terri Jo is moving on to her own business interests. The members of the board wish her well on her future endeavors."
Neff, who has written stories as a freelancer for the San Pedro Valley News-Sun, said she is looking forward to her future.
"The chamber is a wonderful organization that provides many benefits to local businesses," Neff said. "I enjoyed my time working with several local businesses while at the chamber, and was energized by the enthusiasm of the business community. There is so much potential within the greater Benson business community, and I'm eager to work more closely with area businesses and groups to promote, develop and support that potential."
Lockhart said the chamber has already started advertising to fill the executive director position. Neff was hired to replace Debbie Thompson, who had to resign earlier this year for personal reasons.
With plenty of events on schedule, Lockhart said the chamber will move forward, and plans to host Christmas on Main Street as scheduled. The board managed to make the necessary preparations for Butterfield Stage Days in October, and can do the same for Christmas on Main Street, she said.
Christmas on Main Street is set for Saturday, Dec. 13.
Besides losing Neff, Lockhart said there have been some other changes with the chamber, including several new board members.
Beverly Purscell stepped up to the position as board secretary, and new board member Megan Brown was appointed treasurer.
To help with expanding services and events for chamber members and the community, the board has also established several leadership positions.
David DiPeso is the government relations chair, Steve Sacco is the IT chair, Janice Batstrone is the Christmas on Main Street event chair, Jennifer Rush is the public relations chair, and Patty Lambert is the administrative oversight advisor.
"We're so excited to have this new injection of energy and expertise on the board to serve our member businesses," Lockhart said.
After only a few months on the job, Terri Jo Neff has resigned as executive director of the Benson/San Pedro Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Kim Lockhart, president of the chamber, said Neff resigned during a regular board meeting last week for personal reasons. Neff did not submit a letter of resignation, but informed the board in person, she said.
Neff had started working part time for the chamber in August, and moved to full time in October.
"The board has accepted the resignation of Terri Jo Neff as executive director," Lockhart said in a statement. "Terri Jo is moving on to her own business interests. The members of the board wish her well on her future endeavors."
Neff, who has written stories as a freelancer for the San Pedro Valley News-Sun, said she is looking forward to her future.
"The chamber is a wonderful organization that provides many benefits to local businesses," Neff said. "I enjoyed my time working with several local businesses while at the chamber, and was energized by the enthusiasm of the business community. There is so much potential within the greater Benson business community, and I'm eager to work more closely with area businesses and groups to promote, develop and support that potential."
Lockhart said the chamber has already started advertising to fill the executive director position. Neff was hired to replace Debbie Thompson, who had to resign earlier this year for personal reasons.
With plenty of events on schedule, Lockhart said the chamber will move forward, and plans to host Christmas on Main Street as scheduled. The board managed to make the necessary preparations for Butterfield Stage Days in October, and can do the same for Christmas on Main Street, she said.
Christmas on Main Street is set for Saturday, Dec. 13.
Besides losing Neff, Lockhart said there have been some other changes with the chamber, including several new board members.
Beverly Purscell stepped up to the position as board secretary, and new board member Megan Brown was appointed treasurer.
To help with expanding services and events for chamber members and the community, the board has also established several leadership positions.
David DiPeso is the government relations chair, Steve Sacco is the IT chair, Janice Batstrone is the Christmas on Main Street event chair, Jennifer Rush is the public relations chair, and Patty Lambert is the administrative oversight advisor.
"We're so excited to have this new injection of energy and expertise on the board to serve our member businesses," Lockhart said.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
Cissy wrote on Nov 19, 2008 1:32 PM:
" The energy Terry Jo brought to the Chamber was a bright spot in a slowing economy. Thanks for what you did in a short time for our business and others in Benson. "
St David Reader wrote on Nov 20, 2008 9:54 AM:
" A comment about the actual story: I read all the articles about the Sheriffs efforts to be reelected but didn't know the reporter was the new lady working at the Chamber. I've lived here many years but only recently did the chamber pay attention to the buinesses in St David. And that attention was due to this lady Terri. I hope her "future endeavors" means more reporting but if not I say she seemed to do a good job at the Chamber in the time she was there. "
tickled wrote on Nov 20, 2008 1:15 PM:
" After all the dirt you helped sling what are you going to do when the real undisputable facts, not rumors like you spread, come out on you. Shame Shame "
For Tell the real story wrote on Nov 20, 2008 5:46 PM:
" I do not understand what political reporting process is a part of the Chamber of Commerce and it's activities.
She was not a candidate for any political office as such has a right to privacy just the same as anyone else not seeking office.
Smearing people just to be smearing them is below even mud slinging campaigning.
I certainly hope that I do not know you or will ever meet you. Keep rolling around with the hogs. "
She was not a candidate for any political office as such has a right to privacy just the same as anyone else not seeking office.
Smearing people just to be smearing them is below even mud slinging campaigning.
I certainly hope that I do not know you or will ever meet you. Keep rolling around with the hogs. "
From My View wrote on Nov 20, 2008 5:51 PM:
" It is not the credibility of the person speaking that should concern you but the credibility of the words presented.
If a non fire fighter says that your house is on fire will you believe them? "
If a non fire fighter says that your house is on fire will you believe them? "
reader wrote on Nov 21, 2008 8:37 PM:
" why is the real thruth of why she resigned published?we as readers deserve to know. "
Explanation wrote on Nov 21, 2008 8:58 PM:
" Maybe Terri Jo Neff could write a "free lance article" about the MN matter, and explain why she left the Chamber on such short notice. If there is nothing to hide....why not address the conviction allegations and facts available on the web and circulating throughout Benson. Addressing these issues may put an end to rumors and false allegations regarding her credibility. She deserves an opportunity to defend herself. "
For My View.... wrote on Nov 21, 2008 9:02 PM:
" If a non fire fighter told me my house is on fire...you, I would believe him. However, if the same non fire fighter was convicted of Theft by Swindle...I would check on the seriousness of the fire before leaving my valuable behind. Just a thought. "
Lets get real wrote on Nov 22, 2008 10:04 AM:
" Oh my so the woman has a misdemeanor from 1996. Big deal people. That was years before she moved to AZ. Does her past mean that what the DEA told her was false? If anything in her many election stories was incorrect the Sheriff would have yelled to the publishers and editors long ago. But he didn't. So much for your anonymous attacks on her credibility. We in Mescal have known about her past for years. Doesn't negate the good she's done for us with grants for our fire dept and local groups. How naive of you to think she didn't know this would happen when she was asked to take a look at the assumed greatness of Larry Dever. But she did it anyway people. Think about it. So did her background have anything to do with quitting the Chamber when she did? Maybe, maybe not. It is a free country even for people with backgrounds. Get over it people. p.s. I wonder if Dever's deputies could handle this type of scrutiny into their lives? That is the story he really doesn't want written. "
St David Reader wrote on Nov 22, 2008 10:53 AM:
" Maybe she doesn't feel a need to defend her credibiilty for she knows her past can't be undone. It seems people aren't attacking her Chamber duties or the stories she wrote. No, you attack her for something she did more than a decade ago. What's that political adage-- If you can't discredit the story you discredit the writer! Now that Neff is doing her own thing I for one hope she returns to writing about our County for the NewSun. A major federal drug trial involving former County epmloyees starts in a few weeks that she should cover. And I hope the D.E.A. once again gives her exclusive comments. Of course there are people around here who can't admit even to themselves that the trial is going to happen even though it promises to be explosive. The NewSun should cover it. As Neff's critics say, the the facts are the facts. "
St David Reader wrote on Nov 22, 2008 11:52 AM:
" P.S. I know an old man with things in his past he's not too proud of and probably doesn't want light to shine on. Ah, but what good stories that past could provide. Of course all this stuff has Neff too scared to take on the old man again and to be honest what I have in mind is beyond her free-lance abilities. The type of stories requiring political connections, researchers, time and money, even lawyers. I wonder if this old man really wants people to take a deep hard look at his past. Or maybe he wants to move on. Now. Because he will be VERY SURPRISED at how many people around here are tired of the hypocrisy. People who have reputations and connections to find the bigtime journalists needed to bring such stories to life. Very surprised indeed. "
A credible defense wrote on Nov 22, 2008 3:39 PM:
" Sometimes people make bad decisions - but it does not mean they are not good people...which may be the case here. However, a credible defense would be to dispute the facts as they are recorded in a court of law. Anything less is admirable among relatives and friends, but hard to equate for outsiders next to a CONVICTION RESULTING FROM A PLEA AGREEMENT. "
Tell the real story.... wrote on Nov 18, 2008 8:10 PM: