KAYSVILLE -- Applicants from virtually every corner of the country sought the top job at the Davis Chamber of Commerce. Incoming president Vaughn Jacobsen, who is also heading up the search committee, said 81 people applied for the post. It was vacated by Chris Dallin nearly two months ago. He is now public relations director at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden.

Debbie Townsend, manager of Davis Cable Channel 17, which is operated by the Chamber, is serving as acting CEO, and is also among the applicants.

"We had a surprisingly diverse group apply" for the job, Jacobsen said. "It's been really rough," Jacobsen continued, noting the interview process has been a "first cut" narrowed the field by two-thirds, to 27, trimmed to 16, with "brief interviews" to be conducted with each of those candidates.



tbusselberg@davisclipper.com

rowing down the applications. That committee includes two at-large members in addition to others drawn from the chamber of commerce board.

"We wanted a diverse evaluation committee," Jacobsen said. "The charge to the search committee is to return three finalists for the board to review. We're wading through that now."

"While we want to fill the job soon, we don't want to rush the process," Jacobsen said. "We want to make sure we have the right person rather than hurry through any phases."

Meanwhile, the chamber's annual start-of-the-year awards and installation dinner is set for Jan. 19.