Alness, board go separate ways
By Scott Bellile
The Fox West Chamber of Commerce is seeking a new executive director following the departure of recent hire Elizabeth Alness.
“We are informing you that the Executive Director and the board of directors met recently and have decided to go separate ways. It was a mutual decision that we fully support and wish Elizabeth the very best on her next journey,” the collective Fox West Chamber Board stated in an email to chamber members on Nov. 24. “The board of directors will assume the responsibilities for the time being as a new Executive Director is searched for.”
Alness served the Fox West Chamber for just under two months, beginning on Sept. 25.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Alness is now working as a customer service representative in Neenah.
The Press Star was unable to reach Alness before press time.
Asked for comment on the mutual decision, Fox West Chamber Board President Heather Veeser referred to the board’s statement.
She said it is “a bummer” to see Alness go, but the chamber’s volunteers are holding things together in the absence of a director.
“The board is running things very smoothly and very well right now,” Veeser said.
The chamber’s part-time director is the lone paid employee at Fox West. Veeser acknowledged this is a challenge for the organization, but the hope is the next director can grow the chamber, and with that, the position to full time.
Applications have been coming in since last week’s announcement, Veeser said. Interested candidates can send resumes to her at [email protected].
Susan Vanden Heuvel held Fox West’s executive director position for about two years prior to Alness’s arrival. Vanden Heuvel departed on Aug. 18 to become executive director of the Volunteer Center of East Central Wisconsin based in Appleton.
Before she joined the Fox West Chamber, Alness spent nine months as a membership services coordinator for the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce in Minnesota.
The Fox West Chamber serves approximately 200 businesses around Hortonville, Greenville and Grand Chute.