The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - The Dayton Chamber of Commerce has named Andrew Holt as its new Executive Director. Holt started on April 7th. He replaces Brad McMasters, who resigned in January.

Holt previously served as tourism services manager for Tourism Walla Walla from 2010 to 2012. There, he oversaw social media, the visitor's center, and worked on several projects, including the performing arts comm ittee and the regional signage project. Last year he worked as sports information director for Whitman College.

He is a native of Manhattan Beach California, and began his career in radio broadcasting. In the early 1990s, he joined Capps Broadcasting at their radio station in La- Grande, doing both news and sports coverage.

"I did play-by-play coverage of football and basketball for the local high school and for Eastern Oregon University," Holt said.

In 2003, Holt moved to Walla Walla to become news and sports director for Capps at its newly acquired KTEL radio station.

"I am excited about building on an already strong foundation and taking the Dayton Chamber of Commerce to the next level," said Holt. "This community is very special and has endless potential."

Holt joins Linze Purcell in the Chamber office. Purcell has worked as Chamber assistant for 2 ½ years, and was recently assigned the position of event coordinator.

"I am excited to work for someone of her caliber," Holt said, pointing out that Purcell has established strong relationships with local businesses.

In an interview, Holt said that one of his most important goals as Chamber director will be to provide strong oversight of the Chamber's website (www.historicdayton.com). "It's the first point of contact many people have with Dayton," he said. "It's very important we keep it up to date."

Holt said he will also be focused on maintaining and improving the Chamber's general marketing and promotion of local business. Another of his important responsibilities will be providing economic development and business recruitment efforts for downtown Dayton, as part of the Chamber's subcontract for Columbia County's economic development funds through the Southeast Washington Economic Development Agency.