East County Chamber CEO leaves, First Friday Breakfast on March 1

The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce has announced that Scott Alevy, its president/CEO since early 2011, is no longer with the organization.
A letter sent to chamber members said, “To guide our Chamber of Commerce through these challenging economic times, your Board of Directors has concluded, after months of careful debate, that it is necessary to restructure our Chamber staff. To remain the strongest and most viable Chamber in East County, the Board has voted to eliminate the salaried position of President/CEO. This will free up crucial financial revenues that are needed to better serve our membership. The Board is confident that this is the best and most fiscally responsible course of action for our Chamber to take in the current economic climate.”
The letter was signed by Becky Burgstiner as acting president/CEO. Burgstiner, who works for AFLAC, also is immediate past board chair. Marcel Becker, president of JCI Metals in Lemon Grove, is the Chamber’s 2013 board chair.
Alevy is the third Chamber staff to leave in recent months. Jarryd Davis, vice president of events and marketing, left in mid-February. Sherral Bearss worked for the Chamber as vice president of membership and development from 2009 to late 2012. Bearss returned to PennySaver Publications as a senior account executive earlier this year. She spent 23 years with the PennySaver from 1986 to 2009.
Meanwhile, the Chamber will host its First Friday Breakfast starting at 7:15 a.m. on Friday, March 1 at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Dr. Cost to attend is $20 per person for members, $25 per person for non-members. Breakfast sponsor is Team KIA of El Cajon, offering the all new 2012-2013 Kia Forte, Optima, Sedona, Sorento, Soul and Sportage. Breakfast will be provided by Bekker’s Catering. The program will include networking and announcements. For more information, contact the Chamber at (619) 440-6161, or visit www.eastcountychamber.org.