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The five-man search committee for a new president of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce should have a new person in place by summer.

Meanwhile, Bobby Ferrell is serving as the group’s interim president. Ferrell recently retired as director of external affairs for Fayetteville’s Southwestern Bell operations.

The search committee consists of chairman Tommy Deweese, Larry Bittle, Hugh Brewer, Matt Bodishbaugh and Dave Fulton, the ex-officio as chairman. Fulton is president of the Chamber’s board of directors.

Steve Ward resigned as the Chamber’s president on Feb. 1. He is in the process of purchasing a KOA RV park near Clinton, Okla.

“We hated to lose Steve because he was a real dandy for us,” said Ferrell.

Fulton said the national search is well under way with Internet replies already coming in. He said interest in the job is “coast to coast.”

“We may have [a president] in by July, June if we’re lucky,” Fulton said.

The search committee is not limiting the search to someone who was previously a Chamber executive, rather someone previously successful in the business world, Fulton said.

The advertisements, which have run in newspapers throughout the state and a couple of national Chamber associations, say the salary depends on the “qualification and experience of the applicant.” Fayetteville’s pay is apparently competitive.

“We’re real pleased with the response we’ve already had,” Fulton said.

Ferrell said he has been “flattered” that some people want him to take the job permanently. But he has told friends that if he intended to continue working, he would have remained with Southwestern Bell.