Director, assistant resign; Tricia Friddell hired
There has been a shakeup in leadership at the Platte City Chamber of Commerce.
After less than a year at the helm, Stephanie McKinley is gone as executive director of the organization. The assistant director has left the group as well.
In an emailed Chamber of Commerce update last week, McKinley included a “note from the executive director” in which she talked about the move.
“I have made the decision to resign from the executive director position to pursue another career opportunity. It has been my pleasure serving the community in this position and my previous position at the chamber as assistant director. Working for the Platte City Area Chamber of Commerce has been a great experience that has afforded me many valuable opportunities to learn and grow, I am grateful to have been part of this organization,” according to the note from McKinley.
McKinley had taken over as executive director in January of this year. Her predecessor, Angie Mutti, left the chamber for a position in Overland Park in December of 2020.
Reached this week, Tammy Glick, a local attorney who is president of the nine-member chamber of commerce board of directors, said McKinley gave her two week notice on Wednesday, Nov. 24, prior to the holiday lighting ceremony held that night. She indicated her last day would be Wednesday, Dec. 8.
Glick said that in addition, the assistant director, Lisa Dubreuil, gave her two week notice on Friday, Nov. 26 and indicated her last day would be Friday, Dec. 10. Dubreuil had come on board as assistant after McKinley took over as director.
“The board, along with the assistance of DJ Gehrt, who served on the previous search committee, met for its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Dec.1 and decided the best course of action for the chamber would be to revisit the top tier applicants from the search committee’s interview process less than a year ago, and offer those candidates interviews,” Glick told The Landmark this week.
On Wednesday, Dec. 7, the board voted to offer the position to Tricia Friddell.
“Tricia was able to start the position Monday, Dec.13,” Glick said.
Friddell and her husband, Jim, are the owners of The Opus Group, a financial planning firm located on Platte City’s Main Street.
Glick said Friddell will hire an assistant in the near future.
“We are extremely excited about the enthusiasm Tricia will bring to the chamber. As you can imagine, the past several months have been very difficult for local businesses and the chamber,” Glick commented, referring to the pandemic.
“While we wish Stephanie and Lisa well in their new career moves, we are hopeful Tricia will take the reins of the director position and bring some much-needed invigoration to the Platte City Area Chamber of Commerce – Economic Development Council,” Glick commented.