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NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Tim Hamby, the No. 2 choice of the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority, has accepted the $70,000 salary that comes with an additional $8,000 in health benefits to direct the operations of the New Smyrna Beach Visitor's Center.
"I'm very excited," the 49-year Ponte Vedra Beach resident and marketing specialist in the Jacksonville metro area, told Headline Surfer. "It's an honor and a priviledge to market, promote and raise the profile of one of America's finest coastal communities."
Hamby said he understood the conservative salary approach taken by the board, adding, "Hopefully after a year or so, I'll be able to prove myself and merit an increase based on performance."
The official word of the hiring came in a 4:27 p.m. e-mail from Sherry Hendershot, the NSB center's executive administrator, which stated: "Good afternoon board members. (SVAA Chairman) David Kosmas phoned me and informed me that Tim Hamby has accepted the offer for the Executive Director position at the SVAA. David said once the paperwork has been completed with the personnel office at the County, Mr. Hamby is ready to begin his duties as our new director."
Hamby, a marketing specialist from Ponte Vedra, accepted the director's job just one day after the SVAA board met in a special meeting and directed Kosmas to offer him the same package turned down by No. 1 candidate Michelle Coats a week ago today.
Coats, a lifelong New Smyrna Beach resident, was initially offered a $65,000 salary and an $8,000 benefits package, but turned it down. The board added $5,000 to the pot, but she again declined, saying she wanted at least the mid-range salary of $80,000 and health benefits comparable to the $15,000 she receives from Volusia County as a 30-hour employee with a $53,000 annual salary.
Coats had been part of a county transition team that took over the daily operations of the SVAA and its visitor's center back in January when County Manager Jim Dinneen received unanimous approval from the County Council to immediately seize the assets of the authority in the wake of a scandal involving the salary of the previous director, Nicole Carni, who was fired by the board.
The SVAA receives more than $1 million from taxes collected from overnight hotel and accommodation visits to promote tourism.