After fielding through 14 applications and interviewing five potential candidates, an eight-member hiring committee selected Denise May as Downtown Shawnee Inc.’s new executive director.
With the annual Christmas parade only a few weeks away, May knew she would have to learn fast and get straight to work on upcoming events. She spent her first day Monday familiarizing herself with her workplace and the people with whom she will work closely.
“It’s going just fine,” May said. “I’m finding out where everything is in the office right now and I got to meet people at the chamber and economic development. Everybody has been very nice and supportive. I’m getting ready to have my first meeting on the Christmas parade.”
May will also be busy her first week with a three-day mandatory training session in Perry and will continue receiving training next week from the state director of the Main Street Program.
“I’m getting this training under my belt and getting my feet on the ground,” she said. “I’m very excited about it and looking forward to really get started here. My main thing right now is getting the training done and getting that parade under way. I’m meeting with the committee on that on Friday and I’m excited about that.”
Brad Carter, Downtown Shawnee, Inc. board of directors president, said May will be responsible for coordinating events in the downtown area and working with the board of directors for those and other actions. She will also oversee four committees, which address the four-point approach of the local, state and national Main Street Program and which include economic restructure, design, promotion and organization. Downtown Shawnee, Inc. has been nationally recognized Main Street Program for the past 20 years.
“She will be responsible for the day-in, day-out reports of the program that keeps the state informed and will be working closely with merchants, board members, the chamber, visitors bureau and the Shawnee Economic Development Foundation,” Carter said. May will receive an annual straight salary of $30,000 for performing her duties. The salary she will receive does not include health insurance or other benefits.
“We are working to build benefits and plan to increase the salary and benefits once funding is available to do so and the board approves it,” Carter said.
May, originally from Missouri, has lived in Oklahoma for more than 25 years and has resided in Shawnee for the past seven years. Her experience includes 23 years as an independent marketing consultant and 37 years experience in many phases of planning, advertising, public relations, special events, tourism, media relations, writing, creative direction and hotel management.
“The hiring committee was blown away by all her qualities and her skill set is well-suited for the position,” Carter said. “We feel very fortunate to have found someone who is so well-suited to help us create and execute a wonderful vision for Downtown Shawnee, which balances a thriving business, arts and tourism center, with a preservation of the historical significance of the area ... She also brings a great deal of passion to the job.”
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After fielding through 14 applications and interviewing five potential candidates, an eight-member hiring committee selected Denise May as Downtown Shawnee Inc.’s new executive director.
With the annual Christmas parade only a few weeks away, May knew she would have to learn fast and get straight to work on upcoming events. She spent her first day Monday familiarizing herself with her workplace and the people with whom she will work closely.
“It’s going just fine,” May said. “I’m finding out where everything is in the office right now and I got to meet people at the chamber and economic development. Everybody has been very nice and supportive. I’m getting ready to have my first meeting on the Christmas parade.”
May will also be busy her first week with a three-day mandatory training session in Perry and will continue receiving training next week from the state director of the Main Street Program.
“I’m getting this training under my belt and getting my feet on the ground,” she said. “I’m very excited about it and looking forward to really get started here. My main thing right now is getting the training done and getting that parade under way. I’m meeting with the committee on that on Friday and I’m excited about that.”
Brad Carter, Downtown Shawnee, Inc. board of directors president, said May will be responsible for coordinating events in the downtown area and working with the board of directors for those and other actions. She will also oversee four committees, which address the four-point approach of the local, state and national Main Street Program and which include economic restructure, design, promotion and organization. Downtown Shawnee, Inc. has been nationally recognized Main Street Program for the past 20 years.
“She will be responsible for the day-in, day-out reports of the program that keeps the state informed and will be working closely with merchants, board members, the chamber, visitors bureau and the Shawnee Economic Development Foundation,” Carter said. May will receive an annual straight salary of $30,000 for performing her duties. The salary she will receive does not include health insurance or other benefits.
“We are working to build benefits and plan to increase the salary and benefits once funding is available to do so and the board approves it,” Carter said.
May, originally from Missouri, has lived in Oklahoma for more than 25 years and has resided in Shawnee for the past seven years. Her experience includes 23 years as an independent marketing consultant and 37 years experience in many phases of planning, advertising, public relations, special events, tourism, media relations, writing, creative direction and hotel management.
“The hiring committee was blown away by all her qualities and her skill set is well-suited for the position,” Carter said. “We feel very fortunate to have found someone who is so well-suited to help us create and execute a wonderful vision for Downtown Shawnee, which balances a thriving business, arts and tourism center, with a preservation of the historical significance of the area ... She also brings a great deal of passion to the job.”
