The Chamber of Commerce will be recuperating in 2014 by selecting a new chair and vice chair, and searching for a replacement for retiring president and CEO Frank Ferrara.

Attorney Shawn White returned as interim chair after the abrupt resignations of Teresa Russo-Cox and husband Terry Cox as chair and vice chair, respectively, in early November.

White will serve until the end of the current fiscal year, June 30, 2014. The Chamber operates on a fiscal year from July 1 to June 30.

In April, the board of directors will establish a nomination process for officers and board vacancies for 2014-15, said White.

Three new directors were appointed in November: Stephenie Bjorkman of Sami Fine Jewelry; Dr. Nick Schultz of Healthsource Chiropractic; and Jeremy Hall of MCO Properties.

Ferrara said he would step down as Chamber president and CEO Dec. 31, 2014.

In the coming months, the board will determine a selection process to hire Ferrara’s replacement.

Member benefits

The Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce was organized as a non-profit corporation on Nov. 19, 1974 with about 15 members. Membership in December 2012 was 422, according to Ferrara.

Chamber member benefits provide networking at monthly breakfast and dinner meetings, an email blast system (rated as the most popular membership benefit), and an online weekly newsletter that spotlights members who have a human interest experience to share and updated information.

Tourism contract

The Chamber canceled a $103,000 professional services agreement with the town to provide tourism promotion services, effective at the end of 2013.

The decision came shortly after Chamber Tourism Bureau Executive Director Mark McDermott abruptly resigned at the end of October.

Promotion and marketing of the town’s events that attract visitors now falls to the town to administer.

One of the major tourism initiatives brought outdoor and recreational enthusiasts to the 2013 American Trails International Symposium at Radisson Fort McDowell resort in April.

Annual award

Euro Pizza café owner Merita Kraya was selected Business Person of the Year last January.

Four nominees, selected quarterly, will vie for the 2013 title at the Chamber annual dinner. Jan. 25.

The candidates are Christine (Christy) Shaft, Spooner and Shaft Physical Therapy; Charlotte McCluskey, former business woman and Farmers Market organizer; Julie Buchkowski, president of Paul’s ACE Hardware stores; and Juan Gonzalez, owner of Senor Taco restaurants.

Ribbon cuttings

Chamber Ambassadors Jim and Maureen Theiring reported 23 businesses hosted ribbon-cutting ceremonies to introduce their services or products to the public during 2013.

The number exceeded the previous year’s events by eight.