Hot Springs chamber announces succession plan for CEO Jim Fram

Jim Fram, president and CEO of the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Hot Springs Metro Partnership, will leave both organizations next year.

According to a news release, Fram will spend the next several months helping boards of both organizations identify, hire and train a new CEO.

Fram intends to step down in May 2018.

“While Jim is still engaged as CEO and works at a high level of energy, this transition will give him a chance to bring in someone to learn the ropes,” said Latt Batchelor, chairman of the chamber board of directors. “We have in place a succession plan policy earlier adopted by the chamber in 2016 and we are following that plan.”

Both organizations will eventually hire an executive vice president to work alongside Fram, then be promoted as his successor. At the conclusion of this transition process, Fram may remain involved with the chamber and/or partnership in some other capacity, according to the release.

“Our community has been truly blessed to have Jim Fram as the leader of the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Hot Springs Metro Partnership,” said James Montgomery, chairman of the partnership. “Not only does Jim have outstanding leadership skills, but he is a great people person.”

Fram is a 30-year veteran of chamber and economic development organizations in Arkansas, Texas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. He’s worked in Hot Springs for the past four years.