Chamber has nearly 30 applicants for top post

The Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce has nearly 30 applicants for president and chief executive officer.

"The applicants have been very strong," said John B. Johnson, chairman of the chamber's search committee.

"We have a good mix of people who have applied who have both public and private backgrounds," he said.

The chamber advertised regionally in print and online. Friday was the deadline to apply.

The search process began shortly after Karen K. Delmonico resigned from the job in January.

Mr. Johnson said he and David W. Mance, interim president and CEO, will run the applications through a selection criteria matrix Monday. The matrix will compare the applications on the criteria laid out in the job description.

The top six will be presented to the search committee Tuesday. After interviews, the top two or three candidates will come to the full board of directors for interviews.

"We are very concerned about the confidentiality of the applicants," Mr. Johnson said.

In addition to applications, the chamber has received some unsolicited letters of recommendation for some candidates, which will serve as "corroborating evidence" as the committee prepares for interviews.

"The goal is to try to have somebody in place in mid- or late April, but by early May at the latest," Mr. Johnson said.

Mr. Johnson is vice president for sales and marketing of the Johnson Newspaper Corp., publisher of the Times.