CEO Candidates’ Visit Set

DAYTON -- The final three candidates for the Co- lumbia County Health Sys- tem CEO position will be touring Dayton before they are introduced to the hospital board during its meeting on Tuesday, July 24.

The CEO search has been underway since Charlie But- ton's resignation in May. But- ton left the district to take on a new job at Star Valley Medical Center in Afton, Wyo. The in- terim CEO filling in until a new CEO is hired is Jon Smiley.

The health system's board put together a selection committee, comprised of board, staff and community members, that will help the board members choose the top candidate. Those on the selection committee are board members Colleen Sproul and Lisa Naylor, staff members Tiffani Smith and Becka Thompson, and community members Robbie Johnson, of Waits- burg, Paul Hendrickson, of Dayton, and Sharon Shantie, of Starbuck.

The candidates have been narrowed down from more than 30 initial candidates to seven. Applications were due at the end of May. After a series of phone interviews, the search committee will narrow down to the final three who will also be touring the Columbia County Health System facilities, meeting the staff members as well attend- ing a dinner banquet while they are in town. Smiley said he thinks this tour is impor- tant to help the candidates get a feel for the town and decide if Dayton is a place where they would like to live.

Once the candidate is appointed by the board, he or she will begin work by September.