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NSBNEWS.net photo by Henry Frederick.
Steve Dennis, longtime executive director/vice president of the Southeast Volusia Chamber Commerce was fired today by the board. No reason was given in a brief press release sent out by e-mail this afternoon.
NEWSMYRNA BEACH -- The reign of Steve Dennis as executive director/vice president of the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce came to an abrupt end today when he was dismissed after more than two decades at the helm of the organization that has seen declining enrollments in recent years.
The chamber put out a tersely-worded "press release" at 3:51 p.m. promoting the hiring of Samantha Bishop as interim head of the organization without explaining why Dennis was fired.
The chamber release e-mailed to NSBNEWS.net reads: "The Board of Directors' proudly announces the appointment of a new Interim Executive Vice President, Ms. Samantha Bishop, to manage the Chamber of Commerce's daily activities. Ms. Bishop's first order of business will be to find a temporary home for the Chamber during the renovation of the building that will begin January 1, 2011. Additionally, she will renew the Chamber's outreach into the community with regular business hours and more visibility during downtown events."
The only reference to Dennis was at the end of the press release, which stated: :"We appreciate Mr. Dennis' many years of service and wish him well!"
The release directs inquiries to Chamber President Sue Williams, without providing any contact numbers other than the chamber office number, which typically closes up shop by 4 p.m. on Fridays.
NSBNEWS.net placed a call to the chamber shortly after receiving the limited news in an e-mail.
NSBNEWS.net is attempting to reach Williams.
Mayor Adam Barringer confirmed Dennis' ouster to NSBNEWS.net, saying his understanding that Dennis didn't have a choice in the matter.
"It came as a shock to me," Barringer said when reached by cell phone shortly after 5 p.m. "The news came as a complete surprise when Sue Williams told me. I wish Sue and the chamber good luck in their transition.
As for Dennis, Barringer was guarded in his comments, saying only, "I wish him well. Change is certainly as we'e seen with all of the changes in the city (through elections."
Barringer said he doesn't know Dennis' successor. The first-term mayor declined to divulge what explanation Wiliams gave him for Dennis being canned.
Dennis was heavily criticized for being the lone board voter member of seven on the Community Redevelopment Agency last month to recommend to the City Commission that it allow Bert Fish Medical Center to leave the CRA, which has crippled the agency with $3.8 million in less revenue as a result.
That was a major blow to CRA-funded projects that are vital to the survival of Canal Street and to a lesser extent, Flagler Avenue, in this entrenched recession.
Dennis' explanation that the hospital should be allowed to leave because of increasing costs for indigent care that lead to a 4-1 vote by the commission to do just that was deflated when the municipal leaders learned that Bert Fish CEO Bob Williams had received a $1 million golden parachute.