McMasters to Leave Chamber Post

DAYTON - Dayton Chamber of Commerce Execu- tive Director Brad McMasters announced his resignation last week. He will leave his position no later than January 15, 2014.

In an email to chamber board members, McMasters said he is moving to a new home near College Place, and hopes to re-enter the education field. "Sometimes our lives lead us in directions we didn't necessarily expect," he said. "That has certainly been the case for me in the past few years."

Chamber Assistant Linze Purcell, who submitted her resignation last month, has rescinded that resignation and has agreed to stay on at the Chamber while the search for a new director takes place.

McMasters was hired by the chamber in June 2012. He is also owner of the Weinhard Café, on Dayton's Main Street, and is a former elementary school teacher. He is the third chamber director to leave the position in the past three years.

Dan Andrews, of Columbia REA, who is vice presi- dent of the chamber board and will take over as president in January, said that the board is in the process of reevalu- ating the Director position. "We want to look at the du- ties of that position and make sure the new director can accomplish them and that the needs of the chamber and the community can be met in the best possible way," he said.

McMasters said he feels good about the direction of the chamber and wishes the group well. "I will continue to be an advocate for cham- ber endeavors and a cheer- leader for its successes," he said.