Last month, I had a telephone talk with Eileen Donnelly, Chamber chair, shortly after Bowman's departure. She defended Bowman's right to make personnel decisions that included the one involving McKay. Call me naive, but imagine my surprise a couple of days later when a letter announced that McKay had returned. That alone is a troubling development for some folks. Businesspeople make tough decisions and often have to live with them.
Evidence points to the dismissal being a bad mistake.
However, it comes down to the nature of leadership and whether any present or future chamber executive would have enough authority to make those wrenching decisions. Ron Walker is again taking over as acting president and would seem to be a prime candidate to succeed Bowman. He will have steer through some treacherous straits. A lingering problem is the feeling among small business members that big employers call the shots. Big companies, facing that attitude, will not stay around if they are not wanted.