Earlier this year the Sequim- Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce was without an executive director, the majority of the board was gone, and strife and divisiveness threatened to cause irreparable damage to the organization.

Councilman Walt Schubert was asked to become chamber president and when he accepted he made it clear that it was temporary, only until the chamber was back on its feet.

With a newly elected board in place, Schubert has stepped down and local developer Bill Littlejohn has taken his place as board president.

“It was very emotional for me because we’ve been through so much,” Schubert said, but added that Littlejohn was the perfect candidate. “He’s someone I recommended and he’s going to do a fantastic job.”

Littlejohn, along with eight other chamber members, was elected to the board following a special, mail-in chamber election held earlier this year. Since being formed, the new board has adopted a revised set of bylaws but held off on electing new officers until now.

“It’s such a good board. They didn’t need any leadership force,” Schubert said. “They deserve to function without the stigma of what’s happened.”

Ron Gilles has been named president-elect and chairman of the Nominations Committee. Secretary and treasurer is Scott Clausen. Ways and Means Committee chairwoman is Deborah Rambo Sinn, Irrigation Festival Committee chairman is Joe Borden and Annette Hanson chairs the chamber’s Shiso Sister City Committee.

“I think the chamber is coming together,” Littlejohn said, adding that the board’s next step is to find a new executive director. “I hope I can do a good job for them.”