Inspired to pursue other personal and professional ventures,
Ellen Brown, executive director of the Hollister Independence Rally
Committee, will resign effective March 14.
Inspired to pursue other personal and professional ventures, Ellen Brown, executive director of the Hollister Independence Rally Committee, will resign effective March 14.
“I’ve been with the rally since 1998. It’s time to look for a new venture,” Brown said. “I’ve done all there is to do with the rally.”
Although Brown, who has served as executive since 2000, does not have another job waiting for her, she has been approached by other event organizers and wanted to look into establishing her own event management business.
The HIRC Board of Directors called a special meeting for tonight to discuss Brown’s replacement, HIRC President Michael Chappelear said.
In the closed session, the Board will discuss how to fill the executive director position and whether members want to hire an interim director and then open a search for a permanent person, Chappelear said.
“She was a very valuable employee. We are all going to miss her,” Chappelear said.
Though the rally is just four months away, Brown said her departure will have no negative effect on the event, and the public will not notice the change.
“This rally is so large, it takes a year-round effort to develop and get going. There’s not a good time to leave ever,” Brown said. “Everything is already in place. It should be a smooth transition.”
Vendors, entertainment and contracts have already been established, Brown said. And for the next four months, the new executive director will be printing up posters, putting together a schedule of events, selling tickets for the rally’s motorcycle raffle and organizing rally packages that will begin to sell more quickly as the event nears, Brown said.
“They’ll be busy. There’ll be a lot more (phone) calls,” she said. “They will be getting things updated and finalized. There’s a lot of little stuff to get done.”
Chappelear agreed with Brown that her resignation will have no effect on the rally. However, because Brown was so involved and self-motivated, directors will have to fill some gaps at the event in her absence, Chappelear said. The Board will have to “take on a little more than they have in the past and they’re all OK with that,” he said.
HIRC has eight Board members and two employees – a full-time executive director and a part-time position.
Chappelear said prospective executive directors should be self-motivated and willing to learn.
“It will come down to the best qualified person for the position whether or not they’re affiliated with HIRC,” he said.
Executive director responsibilities include event planning, day-to-day operations of the non-profit organization, sponsorship solicitations, bookkeeping and contract negotiations.
