Chamber executive moves on

Barbara Diamond

The revolving door to the office of the Chamber of Commerce top

executive has taken another swing.

Anne Morris, who resigned as chamber chief executive officer on

Wednesday, is the sixth or seventh chamber boss since 1977, depending

on whether you count the Sandies as one or two and ignore at least

one appointment that ended almost before anyone had a chance to learn

to spell her name.

“However,” Morris said, “in the last almost three years, starting

with Cindy O’Brand’s tenure as executive director, the chamber has

achieved greater stability and a more focused implementation of its

mission.

“The chamber has momentum going now to really help the community,

and a change at the executive level should not jeopardize that.”

Morris was formally hired in January 2002, after an interim

appointment, as executive director -- the title was upgraded to CEO

during her 18 months at the helm. She replaced her good friend

O’Brand, whose stay with the chamber was shorter than Morris’.

“I’ve enjoyed working with Annie, and together we’ve done a lot to

make the chamber more effective,” said chamber administrative manager

Suzanne Lilly, who was hired by Morris. “I have learned so much from

her. I’ll miss her, but she will still be working with the chamber

from the outside. She says we’ll probably see more of her than we

ever did.”

Morris is leaving the chamber to become regional manager of South

County Bank, which announced plans on Wednesday to open a branch in

Laguna within the next 90 days.

The bank’s announcement came the same day that Morris turned in

her resignation, probably not a coincidence. Bank officials had

courted her.

“The minute I met her -- at the Awards in Excellence Dinner in

Irvine -- I knew she would fit right into our culture and provide the

kind of hands-on service our customers have come to expect,” said

Thomas E. Yott, bank president in the announcement.

Morris has been a resident of Laguna for 10 years. Her husband,

Mike, owns J.M. Morris Construction Co. Before taking on the chamber

job, Morris worked for South Coast Medical Center in the foundation

office, managing the annual fund and coordinating support group

memberships and special events.

“When I went to the chamber, I had a two-year plan for what I

though the it needed to do to really help the businesses in town,”

Morris said. “I think I have accomplished every goal I set for

myself.”

Morris said her experience with the chamber will serve her well in

her new position with South County Bank.

“We don’t just sit behind our desks and wait for people to walk

in,” bank President Yott said in his press release. “We jump right

into the cities we serve and not only deliver face-to-face

‘what-ever-it takes’ personal service, but we become committed,

active participants in the heart and fabric of the community.”

Until the Laguna branch opens, the bank has one location: Rancho

Santa Margarita. No date has been set yet for Morris to leave the

chamber.

Her successor will be chosen by the chamber executive committee:

Ken Delino, president; Dennis Junka and Chris Lange, vice presidents;

Kathy Conway, treasurer; and Veronica Nice, secretary.

“The chamber’s mission is to promote, represent and support the

businesses and village of Laguna,” Morris said. “I would like to see

a greater awareness of the chamber’s contributions to the community

-- but that is an ongoing effort.”

And soon to be somebody else’s job.