The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana apparently plans no changes in focus or future direction in the wake of last week's departure of arguably its most visible employee.
Steve Schaefer, the chamber's former vice president of public policy and its lobbyist in Indianapolis during legislative sessions, was let go along with Laurel Meny, the chamber's director of marketing, and Carly Settles, its events manager.
"No, I just see a good opportunity for the chamber," said the chamber board of directors' next president, Kathy Briscoe, when asked if changes are ahead.
"We'll continue to do what we've been doing and try and support small business, because if you've heard much about the economy going on right now, that needs to be everybody's focus," said Briscoe, a board member since 2006.
Chamber President and CEO Matt Meadors and Jeff Deig, current president of the chamber board, did not return several messages seeking comment about the organization's future direction and details of its financial position. Briscoe, who will become board president in 2013, cited the I-69 project to Indianapolis as one example of an issue the local chamber will continue to champion.
Claiming more than 1,500 members, the Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana is one of the larger regional chambers in the state and one of a handful that employed a full-time staff lobbyist in Indianapolis during the Legislature's sessions.
The organization's website still includes photographs of Schaefer, including one in which he poses with Gov. Mitch Daniels. Schaefer was one of 20 young professionals under age 40 recognized as emerging leaders last year by the Evansville Business Journal, a niche publication of the Evansville Courier & Press. He is president of the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau's board of directors.
The chamber apparently is in good financial shape in the midst of an economic downtown that has seen many chambers of commerce around the country lose membership, money and influence.
According to the chamber's IRS Form 990, an annual tax reporting return that some federally tax-exempt organizations must file, its total revenue was slightly more than $1.4 million in 2009-10. That figure is more than $150,000 lower than the previous year's amount, but the chamber's net assets increased by more than $41,000 to $790,987.
Meadors was paid $140,006 in reportable compensation from the organization. The Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce, which is of comparable size and scope, paid its director $153,539.
The local chamber's website describes what is a robust public profile that includes the annual development of a policy agenda, a political action committee that endorses candidates in local and statewide races in election years, numerous programs and public sponsorships and a full calendar of events in August, September and October.
"Our legislative advocacy work allows you to focus on growing a dynamic, profitable business," the site states.
The chamber's approach to the promotion of commerce has included in recent years support for not only I-69, but Daniels' ideas for local government reform. The chamber has been a leading voice behind the current drive for Evansville-Vanderburgh County local government consolidation. Schaefer often attended committee and subcommittee meetings of the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Reorganization Committee, the citizens group that crafted the proposal for consolidation now being considered by city and county governing bodies.
In 2007 the chamber endorsed construction of a new Downtown arena that it said would contribute to "having a vibrant Downtown that attracts individuals for housing, employment and entertainment."
The next year, the chamber's political action committee recommended a "yes" vote on a referendum question asking taxpayers to approve a $149 million bond issue for school construction projects for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. Voters approved the question by a large margin.
Schaefer's departure apparently created few ripples in Indianapolis because it came at a time when the Legislature is not in session.
"Southwest Indiana's presence is known at the Statehouse, and due to a large effect by the lobbying efforts of Steve Schaefer," said Rep. Suzanne Crouch, R-Evansville. Schaefer was among several candidates defeated by Crouch in a Republican caucus to fill a legislative vacancy in 2005.
Briscoe said the local chamber won't miss a beat in the next year.
"We've had some good strategic planning meetings and we're looking forward to what's coming up this year and next because obviously we try and be a strong voice for business," she said.
That plan apparently still calls for individuals to fill the now-vacant staff jobs, even if job descriptions change. The chamber's website says it is "now hiring for" a vice president of public policy — Schaefer's former title — plus a marketing manager, a director of marketing and a manager of membership and investor relations.