6A • January 12, 2018 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com
Cannon Beach Chamber searches for new director
By Brenna Visser
Cannon Beach Gazette
The search is on for the
next executive director of the
Cannon Beach Chamber of
Commerce.
As of last week, a search
committee was formed to
help fill the seat left by Court
Carrier, who left the position
in November due to medical
concerns.
A team of nine represent-
ing the lodging industry, food
and beverage industry, art
community and local govern-
ment will create job descrip-
tion and criteria and expect to
advertise for the position in
the next few weeks. While the
chamber board will ultimate-
ly vote on the candidate, the
chamber decided to mimic the
city manager search process
by creating a panel represen-
tative of the community to
make recommendations, said
Greg Swedenborg, president
of the Chamber of Commerce
board and committee member.
Jim Paino is currently
serving as the interim director.
Paino plans to apply for the
R.J. MARX/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE
Former Chamber of Com-
merce Director Court Car-
rier.
R.J. MARX/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE
Chamber Executive Assistant Jim Paino. Paino is among those applying for the role of
chamber director.
position when it opens, and
said he is playing no role in
the search committee process.
The goal is to fill the posi-
tion by the end of March.
“We want to make the
qualities we are looking for
tangible,” Swedenborg said.
“It’s important to find some-
one who works well with
community members, but
how do we want to measure
that? That kind of criteria is
what this committee is work-
ing on developing.”
While the criteria is still
under construction, some
qualifications the board would
like to see include experience
with non-profit work, operat-
ing a similarly-sized budget
and a love for Cannon Beach,
Swedenborg said.
One of Carrier’s great-
est achievements as direc-
tor, Swedenborg said, was
contracting with the city to
receive the percentage of rev-
enue collected from the tran-
sient room tax legally spec-
ified to promote tourism. He
said he hopes the next director
can continue a similar rela-
tionship with the city, as well
as carry on Carrier’s legacy of
connecting local and national
destination marketing organi-
zations.
Changes they would like to
see in the next director, Swe-
denborg said, would be a can-
didate with a more “operation,
organizational focus.”
“There could be improve-
ments with the day-to-day op-
erations, making sure projects
get done not so last minute
as to not stress out the staff,”
Swedenborg said.
Promoting longevity in the
position is also a priority, he
said.
Prior to Carrier, who
stayed in the position almost
three years, three out of the
four directors prior stayed
for less than a year. Some
committee members attribut-
ed inconsistent and outdated
bylaws concerning commu-
nication, voting, employee re-
views and job descriptions to
the high turnover during that
era of the chamber’s history.
“We don’t want to have to
go through this again,” Swe-
denborg said. “It was a small
organization, and things were
loose. We realized there was
a lot of fundamental things
that needed to be given some
structure. So we’ve spent a lot
of effort and time this year on
HR responsibilities, employee
handbooks, and the bylaws
of the chamber to provide a
better foundation for any new
director going forward.”
Committee meetings will
be closed, but Swedenborg
said it’s a priority of the
chamber’s to keep the public
informed of the process.
Ridgway: Goal is to attract a demographic of affluent millennials
Brand from Page 1A
it’s more like 23. We need to
reach other to people in all the
ways we can with the same
clear images and words.”
in a clean, fresh way. We’re
not changing that we’re an
art town, or a premiere beach
destination. We’re packaging
it in a fresh and contemporary
way. I think people will no-
tice, but it’s not such a change
where they think ‘this isn’t
my Cannon Beach.’”
The message
When Ridgway first came
to Cannon Beach, he said he
saw lots of posters up with no
common theme for Cannon
Beach.
“We needed a brand evolu-
tion,” Ridgway said.
Since last year, the cham-
ber worked with the company
Red & Co. to develop color
palettes, a tone of voice in ad
writing, photo style guides.
The goal is to attract a demo-
graphic of affluent millenni-
als, Ridgway said.
“We are very dependent
on the baby-boomer market,
which is okay, but we’re dy-
ing off. We have to appeal to a
The conflict
CANNON BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Logo showing the city’s new branding concept.
younger market,” he said.
Some of the changes to
come will include more pho-
to ads featuring people rath-
er than landscape scenery,
sharper, modern text and,
most notably, a modern logo,
said Gary Hayes, president of
Explorer Media Group.
“It’s personal, it’s authen-
tic, it’s fun and playful,” said
Hayes. Some of the first im-
plementation will be seen in
Cannon Beach Magazine,
which his company produc-
es.“Presenting Cannon Beach
While the committee voted
to approve it late December,
some members of the Cham-
ber board have expressed hes-
itations about certain design
elements didn’t fit the feel of
the town.
According to both Hayes
and Ridgway, some Cham-
ber board members disagreed
with some final design ele-
ments of the logo. Others took
issue with colorful illustra-
tions of icons like Haystack
Rock and puffins that were
proposed, which bear a simi-
larity to the aesthetic of Sea-
side’s branding. Risley said
she wants more original art
and photography to be show-
cased to define the town’s
look.
“We don’t want to homog-
enize ourselves. The draw of
both places is the fact we are
so different. You can go to one
place and enjoy the other next
door,” said Robin Risley, a
Chamber board member who
did not vote to approve the
brand redesign.
While she did not agree
with the final version of the
logo, Risley said she thinks
the branding overall is “fresh
and clever,” and that it is im-
portant for the community to
support the new look for it to
succeed.
However, she still sees
room for improvement.
“People who are attracted
to Cannon Beach are very
impressed with how it is so
natural and nature oriented
and art oriented, and I think
we need to make sure we
continue to project that,” Ris-
ley said. “The look is fresh,
which I appreciate, but we
need to maintain the feel
we’ve been able to project in
the past.”
Hayes, who held similar
reservations about the illus-
trations, said part of imple-
menting the new look will be
translating these differences
of opinion into the product.
“Whenever you embark
on this journey, you get a
variety of opinions. Our job
is to translate that into what
works for our community. We
are looking at phasing in the
branding immediately, one
project at a time,” he said.
Treasure hunting team heads south
Treasure from Page 1A
into the field of excavating and
treasure hunting themselves.
But what exactly are they
hoping to find?
“We’re treasure hunters, so
we keep secrets better than the
pope,” Robert said. “But let’s
just say one of the things fas-
cinating about the panhandle
is many Spanish galleons had
to sail right past there on their
way from Mexico to Havana.
There are a number that are
sunk off the coast there, and
we have access to some of the
world’s top research.”
The Knechts have been in
the world of treasure hunting
for more than 30 years, and
eventually met and bond-
ed over their shared love of
the physical manifestations
of history. Both grew up in
households that valued history
— Robert remembers his dad
dredging for gold, April her
parents showing her around
historical sites.
Robert got his first chance
to hunt for treasure while
working as a photojournalist in
Florida, where he was offered
to join an excavation in Ant-
arctica as a photographer and
medic with a crew who discov-
ered a famous Spanish galleon
off the coast of Florida. Soon
after Captain Carl Fisman, a
famous treasure hunter and
shipwreck discoverer, start-
ed mentoring him and Robert
produced documentaries of his
journeys.
“Treasure always seemed
to find me, regardless where I
was living,” Robert said.
The two for years carried
on for years in unrelated ca-
reers, but decided while living
in Phoenix, Arizona, it was
time to reignite their shared
passion for history, treasure
and ocean living.
The Knechts searched up
and down the coast for a per-
fect place to open up shop
before they were reminded of
Cannon Beach by the image
of Haystack Rock while they
NEW LISTING
BRENNA VISSER/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE
Ancient coins sit on Robert Knecht’s work bench as he and
his wife work on moving their business Cannon Beach
Treasure Co. out of their Hemlock Street location.
‘I LOVE SEEING THE KIDS.…
THEY’LL PULL MONEY
OUT OF THEIR POCKET,
KNOW THEY EARNED
IT BECAUSE IT’S ALL
CRUMPLED UP, WANTING
TO BUY THEIR TREASURE.’
ROBERT KNECHT
were watching TV one day. A
couple of months later, they
signed a lease on Christmas
Eve, and started selling trea-
sure from all over the world —
some treasures from as close
as Cannon Beach’s own sand.
“It’s an exciting process to
go from archaic documenta-
tion all the way to something
easily digestible and mem-
orable for someone who is
purchasing an artifact,” April
said. “It introduces people to
something they may have
never come in contact with.
It becomes more intrinsically
valuable when you understand
our shared history.”
April is excited to explore
a new region and expand her
business model to showcase
more artifacts at one time than
is presently possible in a retail
location. But she will miss
interacting with the custom-
ers both her and Robert have
grown to know.
“I love seeing the kids come
in and grow up. Little ones, 4
and 5 years old, come back.
They’ll pull money out of their
pocket, know they earned it
because it’s all crumpled up,
wanting to buy their treasure,”
she said. “We just want to
thank our longterm customers
that come back and continue to
support us to do what we do”
“And who have become
our friends,” Robert added.
“We are very blessed to have
had our opportunity to do
this.”
NEW LISTING
ELEGANT AND COZY
132 E Surfcrest #D-1, Cannon Beach
A FINE COLLABORATION
3063 S Hemlock St, Cannon Beach
LODGES AT CANNON BEACH
132 E Surfcrest #D-2, Cannon Beach
Craftsman style townhouse, fully furnished
with gourmet kitchen, 2 fireplaces, close to
the beach, restaurant, bakery & markets.
Architect Jay Raskin & builder Scott Rekate have
pulled out all the stops in this 3 bedroom, 2
bath home. Gourmet kitchen, heated detached
garage with connecting breezeway.
Looking for an investment? The Lodges allows
nightly rentals with excellent management by
the Inn at Cannon Beach. Fully furnished.
CMLS#17-1685
$679,000
Karen Meili 503-440-5806
Steve Crane 503-440-6310
CMLS#17-1692
$675,000
Tina Chapman 503-440-9957
CMLS#17-1686
$629,000
Karen Meili 503-440-5806
Steve Crane 503-440-6310
NEW LISTING
NEW PRICE
QUIET SOUTH LOCATION
3748 Coho Place, Cannon Beach
ROOM FOR ALL!
3779 Coho Place, Cannon Beach
Kick back on your expansive deck, enjoy
the views & sounds of the waves on at-
tractive double lot. FOR DETAILS CALL
1-800-784-9541 EXT 711
CMLS#17-469
$499,900
Jackie Weber 503-440-2331
Just a short walk to the beach this
current vacation rental has an addi-
tional rented 2 bdroom apt. Perfect
income property.
CMLS#17-1543
$499,000
Tina Chapman 503-440-9957
NEW PRICE
NEW PRICE
OCEAN VIEW PARCEL
BEAUTIFUL, PEACEFUL PROPERTY
Seascape Drive, Cannon Beach Seascape Drive, Cannon Beach
With 3.34 acres of wooded rolling land,
potential park-like grounds and close to
beach & mid-town shopping, you will have all
the benefits of the city high above summer
crowds.
CMLS#16-848
$259,000
Karen Meili 503-440-5806
IT’S BEACH TIME
401 Cannon Beach Ridge #102, Cannon Beach
GREAT LOCATION
160 E Siuslaw #3, Cannon Beach
Just one block to the beach, this 3 bedroom
condo has 3 fireplaces and a carport. Seller
will pay one year HOA fees for buyer at
closing. Zoned for nightly vacation rentals.
CMLS#16-1664
$291,900
Craig Weston 503-738-2838
Dana Weston 503-738-2839
ENJOY BEACH LIFE
420 Elk Creek Road #201, Cannon Beach
CMLS#17-739
$220,000
Karen Meili 503-440-5806
Lovely one level condo east of
Haystack Rock & Highway 101 within
walking distance to downtown, or east
for miles of forest hiking.
CMLS#16-1149
$215,000
Tina Chapman 503-440-9957
NEW LISTING
NEW LISTING
SWEET COZY COTTAGE
3608 W Chinook Ave, Cannon Beach
HAYSTACK HEIGHTS
3801 E Chinook, Lot 364, Cannon Beach
With 2.07 acres and ocean views, just a
ten minute stroll to town and beach, you
can build your dream home and enjoy
Cannon Beach without the crowds!
Step away from the rat race and come
to the sea with just a short stroll to the
woods just 200í from your front door. 2
bd, 1 bath.
Charming features include vaulted beamed
cedar ceiling, cottage style windows,
2nd bedroom/loft. Entirely fenced and
covered area in rear. Priced to sell in “as is”
condition.
CMLS#17-1303
$210,000
Tina Chapman 503-440-9957
CMLS#17-1728
$172,000
Melissa Eddy 503-440-3258
Located at the end of a cul de sac, high
above the tsunami line with great ocean
views & spectacular sunsets, this is the
perfect time to build that beach home.
CMLS#17-1654
$155,000
Tina Chapman 503-440-9957
CANNON BEACH OFFICE
GEARHART OFFICE
255 N. Hemlock, Ste. B1 • Cannon Beach, OR 97110
800/676-1176 • 503/436-1027
cannonbeach.withwre.com
588 Pacific Way • Gearhart, OR 97138
800/275-7773 • 503/738-8522
gearhart.withwre.com
Serving the Entire North Oregon Coast