SEARCH MOVES ALONG FOR PRESIDENCY OF CHAMBER

The first phase of a search for a new president of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce is winding down.

"All applications have to be in by Tuesday," said Harry Rediger, chairman of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. "Then our screening process will get under way."

Rediger said the chamber was pleased with the large number of applications.

"We have several," he said. "I don't have a total at this time, but we feel good about the numbers. We're certainly pleased with the quantity, and applications have arrived from various parts of the country."

Rediger said the original timetable was still intact.

"We established a hiring date of September or October," said Rediger. "We're still looking for an August or September hire, with a September or October start."

The new president will succeed Robert Hendrix, who announced this year that he will be retiring at the end of the year after 20 years on the job.

Hendrix will work with the new president for eight to 10 weeks, said Rediger.

Among the qualifications for the position are a bachelor's degree, a successful management record and a working knowledge of chamber of commerce operations, government affairs, business community relations, economic development and tourism activities.

Judy Wilferth, of Crossroad Shopping and Professional Office Center and Children's Bazaar, is chairperson of the chamber's search committee. Other members are Kenneth Hayden, Boatmen's Bank; Wayne Smith, CyberTel; Charles Grant, First Presbyterian Church; Beverly Estes, Gulliver's Travel; Harry Rediger, JCPenney; Harry Rust, Rust & Martin Inc.; Dennis Marchi, Schnucks; James Biundo, Southeast Missouri State University; and Craig Felzien, Southwestern Bell Telephone.