Clayton News Daily

By Justin Boron

The Clayton County Chamber of Commerce will interview four candidates in the coming weeks in their search for a new president.

Former president Matt Carlson resigned abruptly in December after eight months with the chamber.

Jack Hancock, the chairman of the chamber Board of Directors, would not disclose the names of the candidates, but said they came from Colorado, South Carolina, and within Georgia. One of the candidates, he said, currently works at the chamber.

Shane Short has managed the organization's day-to-day operations during the interim.

Both an outsider and a candidate already familiar with the community have their benefits, Hancock said.

An outsider may have a more objective approach with fresh ideas, he said, whereas the internal candidate already knows the ins and outs of the business community.

Once the president is selected, search for a new economic development director will begin, Hancock said.

He also said the search would not be rushed to be completed for a trade seminar in June, which will bring Hungarian leaders and business people to facilitate business opportunities in the southeast.

The conference stems from a trade mission to Hungary, sponsored by the chamber.

Most recently, the country's interim trade commissioner Melinda Czagany met and toured Clayton County to prepare for the conference.

The seminar in June will be held at the Georgia Archives in Morrow.