Springs chamber’s CEO departing for CU Foundation

A search will soon commence for a new chief executive officer for the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce.

After 7½ years as chamber president and CEO, Will Temby said Thursday he’s stepping down.

“This is a real bittersweet moment for me,” said Temby, who is taking a job with the CU Foundation, a nonprofit corporation with the mission of supporting the University of Colorado system.

The chamber board of directors has named Dave Csintyan, president of the chamber’s business affairs division, as interim CEO.

“Dave is able to immediately provide strong interim leadership, continuity and strategic energy and direction,” said J.D. Dallager, president of the board. Dallager said a committee is being formed to find a permanent successor, a search he said could take six to eight months.

Temby, 49, has headed the chamber since early 2000, coming from a 20-year career in the hotel industry that included serving as general manager of the Antlers Doubletree hotel, now the Antlers Hilton.

Under his leadership the chamber was restructured, adding divisions with focuses on the military community, small business and public affairs. Temby also worked to bring together community partners.

A recent example was the formation of the Greater Colorado Springs Partnership, an alliance involving the chamber, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Black Chamber of Commerce and Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak, the convention and visitors bureau.

“We have embarked on a proactive course emphasizing collaboration to better address issues that our community tells us are important,” Dallager said.

One task Temby wasn’t able to accomplish was stabilizing the chamber’s membership, which has fallen from 2,300 when he took over to about 1,600. Declining membership is an issue for chambers of commerce across the U.S., he said.

“If there’s any regret,” he said, “it’s not having the additional resources to do really robust marketing and maybe more outreach.”

Csintyan, a retired Air Force officer, started at the chamber as chief operating officer in 2002. He said the remaining membership is stable and he expects it to increase as the Colorado Springs Partnership expands.

“I’m not the least bit worried,” he said.

A new leader with a new perspective will benefit the chamber, Temby said. “I’m a firm believer that change is good for an organization.”

Temby begins his new job with the CU Foundation on Oct. 1. Details are being worked out, but he said he’ll be “multi-hatted” — assisting with major initiatives at the Colorado Springs and Boulder campuses. He’ll still live in the Springs, he said.

In 2004, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs recognized Temby with the Chancellor’s Community Award for his support of the university system.

“I’m very bullish on how that system plays a part in Colorado’s economy,” he said.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0272 or bill.radford@gazette.com

Temby is a team player, “easy to get along with, easy to work with. The CU system is fortunate to get him. The chamber has always been supportive of the military, but under Will’s leadership, there was a marked improvement in getting more closely aligned with the needs of the military and working to resolve those.”

MIKE KAZMIERSKI,

president of the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp.

“I just think he’ll do a great job for the foundation. He’s straightforward with people, he’s very clear and honest, has a lot of integrity, and I think those are the kinds of things that really help you lead on important issues.”

PAM SHOCKLEY-ZALABAK, chancellor of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

“I was heartbroken to hear that he’s departing because he’s been such a great ally and friend to our tourism industry.”

TERRY SULLIVAN, president and CEO of Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak, the convention and visitors bureau

“I’ll be sorry to see him leave. He has done a lot of good things for our community.” Among those, the mayor said, were key roles in supporting the Rural Transportation Authority and in helping defeat taxcut and debt-limitation ballot initiatives 200 and 201.

COLORADO SPRINGS MAYOR LIONEL RIVERA