By Tammy Sue Struble
Former Tampa Convention Center leader John Moors is the new executive director of the Dade City Chamber of Commerce. He started the job last week, replacing Nita Beckworth, who was relieved of the position last month.
During the Thanksgiving holiday, the office struggled a little with staffing. However, according to Joey Wubbna, the current chamber president, everything has been running smoothly since.
“About nine chamber board volunteers took turns on different days working in the office,” Wubbna explained. Along with three full-time staff in the office, they have handled Beckworth’s absence.
Wubbna said the chamber received about 20 applications for the position. The chamber board interviewed the top three selected from the group Dec. 6.
Moors, from New Tampa, has a strong background in the hotel/hospitality business. Although the former Tampa Convention Center head, Moors has ties with Dade City. He was an adjunct professor at Saint Leo University and has served on the Advisory Council for hospitality and tourism at the university for about five years.
“So, I am not unfamiliar with the area,” Moors said.
After about a decade at the convention center, he left in March citing health reasons — which Moors said have not slowed him down. He expressed confidence that health issues will not affect his work at the Dade City Chamber.
At 58, Moors states that the Dade City position, “Doesn’t feel like it’s any less pressure” than the convention center job. In fact, he has been busy doing different things since he left the Tampa job.
Moors has been very active in business associations and charity organizations. “I most recently just finished as volunteer coordinator for Moving Hillsborough Forward,” he said, referring to a recent transportation initiative for increased transportation services throughout the county that voters defeated.
He remains involved with the Paint Your Heart out Tampa project where approximately 3,000 volunteers paint 100 houses in one day.
“It is primarily for fixed income seniors who couldn’t afford to do it otherwise,” Moors explained. He has also been involved with the United Way and chaired Leadership Tampa Alumni through the Greater Tampa Chamber.
Moors is looking forward to his new position as executive director at the Dade City Chamber of Commerce; he was ready for a change.
“It is a new and exciting challenge,” he said. “I certainly buy into a focus on the past with an eye to the future. I believe this community is moving in the right direction.”
