Photo by Henry Frederick
Samantha Bishop, shown in this photo taken earlier in the week in front of the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce on Canal Street in New Smyrna Beach, has been at the helm for 40 days as interim executive vice president succeeding Steve Dennis, shown below, who was fired. Bishop said she discovered on her first day on the job that the chamber's financial reserves were depleted, forcing her Thursday to lay off the four paid staffers.
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NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The four paid staffers for the Southeast Chamber of Commerce were let go Thursday because there wasn't enough revenue to pay their salaries, interim Executive Vice President Samantha Bishop said.
With that action taken, Bishop will move forward alone with the day-to-day operations of the chamber, relying on volunteers to help.
"The Doors ARE OPEN AND WILL STAY OPEN!," Bishop wrote in a memo to the executive board, which NSBNEWS.net obtained later in the evening. "The Chamber of Commerce is right-sizing! Today Chamber Staff was laid-off."
Bishop, an MBA graduate of Stetson University and marketing background, who has been on the job for 40 days since her longtime predecessor, Steve Dennis was fired by the executive board, said she had no choice but to say goodbye to the four employees.
"This is not a decision that I take lightly, Bishop said. "I have done my due diligence and this was the only alternative to survive. All other businesses and organizations in our communities have tightened their belts for survival – the Chamber is no different."
She added, "This cut was necessary to restructure and reorganize the Chamber so that it will be vital and strong for the next 75 years. Since 1926 the Chamber was founded on volunteers... I have a strong network of people reaching out to help me and see the Chamber succeed! We will not close!"
Bishop, who lives in Edgewater and is married to Roy Bishop, proprietor of Bishop's Towing, said when she reported for work the first time, she discovered the chamber's finances were completely depleted.
Though none of the executive board members have been willing to discuss the situation publicly, NSBNEWS.net has been told by several inside sources that the chamber has been split between the clear majority supporting current president Sue Williams and a smaller faction supporting immediate past president Robert Lott, a close friend of Dennis' who was even seen texting him while he and Williams and others on the executive board were deliberating over Dennis' fate.
Lott has declined comment and he could not be reached for comment last night, but he was overheard prior to Monday night's Bert Fish Hospital merger meeting telling retiring County Councilman Jack Hayman that he was likely quitting the chamber. Dennis could not be reached for comment last night as well.
Williams said Dennis was fired for "business reasons" without elaborating, though those close to the situation said Dennis has had little oversight in recent years with membership dropping and community outreach programs drawing smaller numbers.
A prominent person in New Smyrna Beach who asked to remain anonymous told NSBNEWS.net Wednesday night that there is talk that Lott and Dennis, who have had a stranglehold on the chamber until Dennis was fired, will start a new chamber in Edgewater and try to recruit members from the existing chamber.
The source said they will seek financial backing coming from the developers of Restoration, the controversial large-scale village proposed for the western edge of that city near Interstate 95.
Williams said she was not surprised by the whispers when told by NSBNEWS.net Thursday afternoon, saying there have been attempts like that in past years with changes in leadership..
Lott's time on the executive board in his role as "immediate past president" ends Dec. 31. Williams will remain on the board in the new year as "immediate past president."
The Chamber is temporarily relocating to a different building in New Smyrna Beach to make way for a major renovation of the city-owned building on Canal Street.
"We have a lot of packing to do and moving, so it will be a very busy 3rd Quarter and don’t forget the three Hob Nob events and Chamber Cruise," Bishop said in her memo to the executive board, adding of the overall situation, "We won’t miss a beat!"
Bishop continued she made it clear early on that "there would be a lot of changes and it starts now" with the operation's survival literally week up to this point.
Mayor Adam Barringer said he was saddened by the loss of jobs there, but he wasn't surprised and said he understood the reasons why the decision was made.