After just over a year as the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau’s President and CEO Candace Carr Strauss has resigned from her position effective March 9.
The resignation came as a shock to many in the community as Carr Strauss addressed her departure in a letter to officials and constituents the same day as the chamber’s Board of Directors accepted the resignation of Strauss and announced that Director of Marketing Michelle Conway will be filling in as interim President and CEO until a full-time replacement is found.
“Per my contract, I had to give three months’ notice to the board, and I did that,” Carr Strauss said. “But they graciously said ‘thank you very much, but you don’t need to finish that out. We appreciate you for your service.’”
Moving to Sedona from Montana, Carr Strauss left her husband and son back up north. When plans changed from them initially moving to Sedona with her, Carr Strauss spent 14 months away from her family, flying back often.
Although her last day was March 9, Carr Strauss will not be moving back to the Big Sky area until the end of March.
“I happened to be home a few weeks ago,” Carr Strauss said. “It just was really difficult to get on the plane before coming back especially with all that’s going on in the Ukraine right now, we’re watching families being torn apart as they’re fighting for freedom. And this commuting back and forth, it’s just been really difficult. I just made that personal decision, and it’s time for me to go be with them. They need me and I need them.”
This will be Conway’s second time filling in for the role, as she took over when former President and CEO Jennifer Wesselhoff left for a job in Park City, Utah, prior to Carr Strauss coming to the position. According to Wesselhoff and the board, there is no timeline or process set up yet for recruiting a permanent president and CEO, but business will continue as usual for them.
“The goals of the chamber have been consistent for several years and remain unchanged, i.e., to be the regional voice of the business community, work with all stakeholders in leading the development of a sustainable Sedona,” Conway said.
During Carr Strauss’ past year in Sedona, she had a front-row seat to the community’s discussion about short-term rentals, transit services and increased tourism. And despite her love for her staff and the people of Sedona, Carr Strauss said she still dealt with many of the unanswered questions that come before the city.
“We’re trying to solve those issues, address challenges and mitigate impacts. But it’s every single thing, from housing to traffic to trailhead congestion to impacts of noise abatement with helicopter tours to ATV and OHV impacts,” Carr Strauss said. “So absolutely every single thing that possibly could be challenged as being challenged. When everything’s a priority, it makes it very difficult to function, I guess is the best word to say.”
Carr Strauss has not planned her next career move when she returns to Montana. But for now, she says she is looking forward to taking some time off.
“I’m going to take a little time for myself, I think, to just reflect on what I want to do and some things that bring me real joy, like what is that and what does that mean? Tourism is in my blood. Though I love it so I can definitely say that. I’m sure I will touch it in one way or another.”
