Fulton County chamber chooses interim leader from current staff

PHOTOGRAPHER: Bethany Bump

The Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board of Directors has appointed Terry Swierzowski to serve as interim president after current President and CEO Wally Hart leaves next month.

The board announced Wednesday that Swierzowski, who currently serves as the chamber’s vice president and director of tourism and communications, will take over for Hart in mid-November.

“I’m excited about it,” she said. “I’m hoping to help make the transition seamless for our members, which is the most important thing. They know that they can continue to contact our office and know who they’re going to get when they call. We have a very long-tenured, capable staff that our members have come to know and trust over the years, so I’m excited to be able to go through this transition with them.”

Hart, who has been with the chamber for nearly a decade, announced Monday he would be leaving to take a position at Lexington, where he will serve as division director for community and business development.

The board met Tuesday to discuss Hart’s temporary replacement and asked Swierzowski the next day if she would take the job.

Swierzowski has been involved in all chamber programs during her 10 years with the group. She served as the chamber’s director of special events and programs until 2009, when she was appointed vice president.

“We all agreed this would be great for transition,” she said.

“I’ve worked very closely with Wally for the nine years he’s been here.”

The search for a permanent president has not yet begun, said Swierzowski. The chamber will operate with just four staffers once Hart leaves.

Swierzowski said she will continue all the duties of her current job once she begins as interim president, but the staff will also gauge its workload and see if it needs to realign.