Hannaman steps up as chamber executive director

This weekend Ronni Hannaman will take her video camera and record the Carson City Symphony in concert.

Next weekend she'll fly to London to shoot a tourism video for an airline company.

She winds down during the work week. Hannaman was recently selected to represent 740 Carson City businesses as the chamber of commerce's executive director.

"I took the job because I know how to do it," she said Thursday. "I know the chamber. I know Carson City. It seemed to be a perfect fit with my background."

Hannaman's new position with the Carson City Area Chamber of Commerce is the small-business owner's first 40-hour a week office job in three years. She's taken the position for six months to "see if it fits" and then will make the decision whether to stay.

She resigned as board chairwoman Feb. 15 to take over as interim executive director. First Vice Chairman Robert Crowell replaced her.

Chamber Secretary/Treasurer Betty Brogan said the board was not satisfied with the four candidates it interviewed for the job, but the board did see what it wanted in Hannaman. After the departure of Larry Osborne, who retired after almost 18 years with the chamber, Hannaman was at the chamber daily assisting the staff.

"During the vacancy in the office she demonstrated the capabilities that we were looking for," Brogan said.

Before moving to Carson City about eight years ago, Hannaman was president of the Pennsylvania Travel Council in Harrisburg for 10 years. Afterward, she was director of visitor marketing for the San Diego Convention & Visitors' Bureau. Hannaman also owned her own travel agency in San Diego from 1992 to 1998.

Hannaman, 62, said it's hard to move into a strict 9-5 job after having so much freedom with her home-based videography and graphic design business. Best Foot Forward has been downgraded to a hobby for now, she said.

Even though Hannaman has returned to the administrative side of business, she is still passionate about video and television.

"I would like to produce an in-house show for the chamber that features local business news," she said. "It will be monthly to start. I'm going to get (Robert) Crowell in front of the camera."

Crowell, a partner with Crowell, Susich, Tackes & Griffin was out of the country on vacation and could not be reached for comment.

He's a frequent guest on Nevada Newsmakers and a trustee on the Carson City School Board. Kevin Stansbury, Carson Tahoe Regional Healthcare vice president of operations, filled the second vice chairman seat.

Hannaman said several changes will be made during her interim term, including more board involvement in chamber actions. She also plans on strengthening committees - there are six now and that will probably grow.

The nonprofit organization pays the executive director $50,000 a year.

-- Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.