Carson City Convention & Visitors Bureau board renews search for permanent executive director

The search for a new leader for Carson City’s Convention & Visitors Bureau entered a new phase Thursday as the interim director stayed on at a reduced rate of $53 hourly.

The bureau authority’s board voted without dissent to advertise for a new bureau executive director locally, regionally and nationally. But discussion centered on an expeditious process after the previous national search resulted in rejections.

Interim Director Linda Ritter agreed to stay on after April 12 and until a permanent director is found, but at a reduced rate with more hours possible.

She had been receiving $75 hourly for up to 30 hours weekly in her eight-week contract. Her new pact allows a maximum of 40 hours weekly.

Supervisor Karen Abowd, a member of the bureau board, told her Carson City Board of Supervisors colleagues at noon Thursday that she was headed next to a 1 p.m. session with the bureau’s board because the previous search didn’t work out.

In the afternoon, she suggested that another national net be cast and that the board proceed quickly, so prospective good candidates don’t get hired elsewhere before a Carson City offer can be made.

Ritter, meanwhile, said her two months in the interim role indicated a local person might prove helpful.

She said two local candidates had expressed interest: Joel Dunn, now operations manager at Carson City Recreation; and David Abbott, who has a background in lodging.

“You’ve got to have somebody who knows the lay of the land,” she said. Linda Barnett, manager of the Hampton Inn and the only person at the meeting making public comments, disagreed. She said folks from elsewhere can learn what is needed quickly.

In the end, the board decided to advertise both in Northern Nevada and nationally, with a goal of acting on candidates in May.