Battle Ground Chamber exec moves on

Executive Director position eliminated due to poor economy

BY PAUL LEONARD of the VBJ

Citing a sluggish economy, the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce eliminated the position of Executive Director Diane Rivera last week.

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Julie Bocanegra, chairwoman of the Chamber board of directors, will share Rivera's Chamber duties with other board members. The organization will continue with volunteer executives until the economy improves, according to a statement released Oct. 2.

"The Chamber must adapt to changes in the current climate, just as any other business," Bocanegra said in last week's statement. "We are restructuring and implementing plans for a solid platform in 2010."

A source from within the organization said the last several months of financial planning at the Chamber had been "very challenging" and that Rivera's dismissal "was not an easy decision."

Reached this week, Bocanegra declined to comment on the timing of Rivera's departure, effective Oct. 2. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in architecture from the University of Maryland, Rivera had been executive director of the estimated 242-member Chamber for three years.

"We made the decision based on our financial challenges," Bocanegra said.

Along with business groups in Woodland, La Center and Ridgefield, the Battle Ground Chamber serves a less densely-populated but fast-growing North County area hit hard by a lingering economic downturn.

"Not knowing the situation, it's a little concerning," said Pat Mobley, director of investor relations at the Columbia River Economic Development Council. "The more viable economic organizations in the county, the better."

CREDC is not affiliated with the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce.

The announcement of Rivera's departure came on the same day as the Chamber's 11th Annual Golf Classic at the Cedars on Salmon Creek last week.

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