ASHEBORO – Now it’s about putting the personnel and parts in place for the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce.
Adam Deathe, a man with international connections, has been hired as the new president and chief executive officer. The Chamber’s board of directors announced last week that Deathe will take the position that has been vacant since the end of October.
“It has been a rigorous process,” said HR Gallimore, who’s chair of the Chamber’s executive committee. “We hope we didn’t leave a stone unturned.”
Deathe has been president of Warroad Community Development in Warroad, Minnesota.
“I have been looking for the right community to build upon the skill sets that I have learned over the past several years and be a part of a growing area,” Deathe said in a statement released by the chamber.
Deathe will be charged with replenishing the Chamber’s staff, which has been gutted by a variety of departures.
“Adam will work with the board to address the needs,” Gallimore said. “We’re going to give him every bit of support so that he can succeed.:
Deathe will begin his new role at the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber on July 15.
The months-long vacancy left a void combined with multiple staff departures since then. When there was a major announcement in late May regarding plans for Ross Stores to build a distribution center in Randolph County and attract more than 850 jobs, the Chamber in the county seat – when contacted – was unable to provide any additional information or insight on the topic.
The Chamber initiated an executive search process last November following the resignation of Linda Brown, who took a position with Randolph Community College.
Kelly Heath, a past chair of the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber, has been serving as interim president. She’s also a member of the Asheboro City Council.
Deathe was born in England, earned a business administration degree from the University of Derby and Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology in New Zealand. His work career began as a financial dealer with IPS Capital Management in Bath, England, and later held positions in England with Anderselite, Oliver Thornton Recruitment and South Tyneside Council.
Deathe has a sister living in the Raleigh area, so there is a connection to the region, Gallimore said.
It turned into a two-pronged search when the first round of candidates didn’t result in a hire. The board of directors then turned to The Chason Group, a search firm, to spearhead the process.
This time, the field was narrowed to five candidates and then two finalists. That resulted in the offer to Deathe, who had taken part in a meet and greet with community stakeholders as part of the process.
“Nothing better than to know what the community really thinks,” Gallimore said. “We vetted them carefully. We wouldn’t have moved forward if we weren’t confident.”
There’s still a period of transition that could be ongoing.
Alyssa Chapuis has been filling in as a part-time office coordinator for the chamber. But she has been hired as public information officer for the City of Asheboro, a role that will become full-time at the beginning of July, so her direct assistance with the chamber is winding down. Vickie Burgess has been filling a position as part-time office assistant.
