The search for a new Tourism Coordinator for Carter County continues as Chamber of Commerce officials complete a series of candidate interviews.

A total of nine individuals applied for the Tourism Coordinator position through the Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce. Chamber Director Tonya Stevens completed the first round of interviews with all nine applicants and then reported the results of those interviews to the Chamber’s Executive Board.

“We did a second round of interviews with the Executive Board,” Stevens said. “They brought back four.”

The second round of interviews is now complete, but Stevens said the Executive Board has not decided as to whether or not to conduct additional interviews or to offer the position to one of the candidates.

“We had some good applicants with good strengths in a variety of different areas,” Stevens said of the field of candidates. “It makes for a challenge when you have to pick just one and you have several good applicants to choose from.”

The Tourism Coordinator role is important to the Chamber’s operations and promoting Carter County, and the Chamber is hoping to fill that position soon, Stevens said. However, the Chamber has not set a firm date for the hiring process to be completed as the Executive Board wants to ensure they get the best candidate to fill the position.

“I’m glad we were able to talk to several good folks,” Stevens said. “I’m sure whoever they pick will be a good fit for the position.”

The Tourism Coordinator position became vacant in December 2017 when Kayla Carter left her role at the Chamber to take on a new position with the Northeast Tennessee Regional Economic Partnership. Carter had served as Tourism Coordinator for Carter County since June 2016.

The Tourism Coordinator position is primarily a marketing position guided by the Tourism Development Council within the Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce.