The Centralia Downtown Association is resuming its search for an executive director to lead the day-to-day operations of the nonprofit organization in hopes of freeing up board members to plan long-term goals.
The CDA solicited applications in April and May, but did not receive many responses to the online job posting, which lists a number of required and preferred qualifications held by applicants as well as a salary range of $35,000-40,000.
Board President Jan Nontell said it’s been hard for herself and other leaders of the association to put on events in downtown Centralia while also spending time on the daily grind that comes with running a nonprofit.
“The board has been doing the job of an executive director for the most part, but we’re supposed to have different duties,” Nontell said. “The board provides oversight and sets a direction, the director is the one who executes it and makes the magic happen. All of us on the board have our own businesses or work full time, so freeing up some time for us to do long-term planning and training is a big part of what we’re looking for.”
Applicants must have a four-year college degree and at least three years of relevant work experience. Once hired, the new executive director will be tasked with developing public awareness and education campaigns on behalf of the CDA as well as representing the organization as its primary front-facing member.
Nontell said candidates do not need to be from the area to be considered for the position, but would need to show a proven track record of passion and support for small, historic downtowns.
She and board member Holly Phelps, owner of downtown boutique The Shady Lady and chair of the CDA Design Committee, both cited a desire to hire someone with the marketing and social skills needed to entice people and businesses to get involved with the organization.
“They’d be meeting with big, diverse groups of people and need to be motivated to get things done,” Phelps said. “They have to be mindful that we’re small and not a waterfront town. We’re not Gig Harbor or Port Townsend, so they need to be motivated to reach out to people and keep things moving.”
One venture a new director would be handed from the get-go is the Meet Me in Centralia campaign to convince more organizations to hold events and conferences in Centralia by talking up its central location between Seattle and Portland as well the addition of new event spaces downtown.
Bringing more outside events into town would have a positive impact on local restaurants and hotels, Phelps said. The CDA has advertised the initiative online and hopes to further develop the concept once an executive director is hired.
