The Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce hopes to bury its controversy from last year by moving forward with a search for a new executive director.

        “We are looking for someone with some experience in business and (who) can work with diverse groups,” said Eugene Ellington, who heads the local search for the director. “I think we have come together and have a clear mission to promote economic development in the black community.”

        The need for a new executive director came about Monday when Hubert Guest said he is resigning his chief operating officer position with the chamber at the end of the month. He said he expects to remain with the chamber in a volunteer capacity such as representing the chamber on the Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI).

        “I think the chamber has settled the controversial issues it had and is ready to develop a good relationship with the city,” Mr. Guest said.

        Mr. Ellington said the chamber combined the positions of executive director and chief operating officer and will pay the person selected between $50,000 and $65,000 per year.

        Last year, the chamber came under fire when the city froze part of a $300,000, three-year contract when officials said the chamber had not provided detailed documents for expenditures.

        The city had contracted with the agency to develop a Tourism-Multicultural Impact Project that would bring diverse groups into the region from across the country.

        The chamber was later cleared of mismanaging funds. Weeks later, the chamber's board of directors fired then-president James Clingman, one of the founding members of the chamber. Board members would not comment on why Mr. Clingman was fired.

Alliance restricting OxyContin
Bar's neighbors provided drug tips
Gulf War moms share pain, pride
Arlington ceremony to honor war dead
Shirey vows to stay
Tight state budget puts squeeze on counties
Electric Choice effort gets results
More answers to your energy questions
PULFER: Bus drivers go extra distance
'Slave' leads tours on Underground Railroad
Civil rights leader, others honored
Ky. youth most likely to smoke
Farmers' dependence on tobacco tough habit to break
19% of babies subjected to smoke
Candidate sues over rumor
Civic club suffers from city's battles
Covington school board reviews list for a leader
Democrat to run against McConnell
Sparta admonished by auditor
Airport moves to stem pollution
Kentucky Digest
Local Digest
Russian museum administrators listen, learn
Two men face dog fighting charges
City looks into laptop
Director sought for black chamber
Historic house is cornerstone of conflict over new park plans
New Main St. zoning OK'd
Ohio wants households to document travel