The Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has announced that President and CEO Mark Dobson will be leaving his duties in October to assume the President and CEO roll with the Elkhart County Economic Development Corporation. A search committee led by Board Chair Jane Wear has been put in place to seek Dobson’s replacement.

“The staff here is an amazing staff. They are a really great team and there won’t be any hiccups when I leave. I won’t take credit for really great people. They make things happen,” stated Dobson.

Wear will take on the search to fill Dobson’s shoes as he prepares to depart from the Chamber on Oct. 9. According to Dobson Wear plans to search the community for input and possible candidates.

“She will be looking for great applicants who can take the ball from where I’ve moved it and take the ball even further.”

Wear noted “the chamber serves over 600 members and represents a most desirable opportunity. We look for a rapid transition to new leadership. The chamber team in place will continue to serve our members with the highest level of professionalism during this period of transition.”

Dobson currently splits his time between both Elkhart and Leesburg. Spending the work week in Leesburg, Dobson then spends his weekends in Elkhart with his wife, who is a teacher for an area school.

According to Dobson, his new position at EDC will allow him to help recruit businesses to the Elkhart County region. He will work to keep those businesses in the area as well as promote the “reshoring” and recruiting of new businesses.

“Its been a fabulous, wonderful run here. This is a harder decision to leave then one can imagine. I am grateful I will only be one county away and can possibly work with Kosciusko. This community has been really good to me and my family and I won’t be walking away from that.”