The Visitors Bureau offers shared office space for the the City of Seaside Visitors Bureau and Seaside Chamber of Commerce.

Three candidates for the Seaside Chamber of Commerce CEO position came to the Bob Chisholm Community Center Wednesday to meet community leaders and chamber members. Lance Clark, Matt Gerber and Katie McCloud were among more than 30 overall — for the position.

Gerber, who lives and works in Rochester Hills, Michigan, about 45 miles northwest of Detroit, served in the Coast Guard in Astoria, what he described as his “most memorable tour.”

He was president of the Lower Columbia River Chapter of the Chief Petty Officers Association from 2016 to 2020, when he relocated to the Midwest with the Coast Guard as a senior operations manager. He described himself as experienced in planning and coordination of special events, promoting community outreach and engagement.

He said he felt “at home” in Seaside, especially reconnecting with familiar faces he has met before.

Clark has 20 years trade association management experience and is the executive officer of the Northwest Housing Association, a nonprofit trade association promoting manufactured housing and manufactured homes.

He has traveled throughout the Northwest, he said, bringing him a perspective of the tourism and guest industry point of view.

After McCloud worked for The Dalles Chamber of Commerce, she joined the Seaside chamber communications and marketing director in early 2020.

When Seaside chamber CEO Brian Owen announced his new position as executive director of the Seaside Civic and Convention Center in June, McCloud was named interim CEO, a role she has served since, including supervision of the chamber’s signature events, Seaside Beach Volleyball and Hood to Coast.

“I fell in love with the community,” McCloud said. “I’ve always been in Seaside throughout my entire life vacationing here so I wanted to move to Seaside. I had no idea that the community would be so amazing.”

Her contract as interim CEO comes to an end this month.

Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District Executive Director Skyler Archibald leads the hiring process, with a search committee that includes Seaside’s director of tourism marketing, Joshua Heineman; David Reed, executive director of the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce; and former Seaside chamber board member Andrew Stein. A decision is expected next week, Archibald said.