Passing the torch - again

After a seven-month tenure, Fred Boyd steps down on Wednesday as interim CEO of the Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce, which found itself without a leader last December after the sudden departure of longtime CEO Harry York.

Boyd, former owner of Napa-Sonoma at Independence Square, is getting used to filling in on short notice in this instance, less than two days. In 1997 he served as interim director of the Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority. Both stints were after he retired.

On Wednesday Boyd hands the reins to incoming CEO Douglas Kirkul. He says he tried hard to be a proactive leader as opposed to being just a caretaker.

"There is a significant difference in keeping things together and being proactive. What I tried to do is provide direction and leadership during a transition period."

Boyd was contacted for the position by immediate past chamber chair Dee Schafer and current chair Sean French. Schafer says she can't think of anybody who would have been a better fit.

"We couldn't have done it without him. He is incredible when it comes to coming in and picking up quickly and helping lead an organization's board and staff.

"Fred has always been a change agent in the community. It made sense to bring him in during the chamber's transition. Any organization, when it goes through a transition, needs to have a solid leader in place. We were looking for somebody who had that skill and the ability to be a leader."

Boyd says the most important task accomplished in the past seven months was maintaining or rebuilding the chamber's business relationships, as well as beginning new ones. He points to work with organizations such as Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, the cities of Reno and Sparks, Washoe County, Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, Sparks Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Improvement Association. "Collaborations are something I feel very strongly about," he says.

Boyd also oversaw his share of internal changes, adding new staff and upgrading the chamber staff's desktop computers and server system. Such transitions are rarely easy or error-free.

"It has been a challenge in the sense that we are going through people changes and a major technology change, but it will make our work more productive, and most importantly provide improved service to our members," he says.

Most importantly, though, was guiding the Chamber through this year's legislative session.

"We take a very active involvement in the legislature as a chamber representing general business, and while I was not doing lobbying or public policy, there is not a day that went by I was not talking to our people in Carson City and trying to share that with our members," he says. The chamber monitored 250 bills in this year's legislative session.

Other noteworthy steps include developing a relationship with the Reno Tahoe Young Professionals Network. The chamber donated office space to the recently formed organization. It also joined with the Downtown Improvement Association to address and resolve flooding problems at the Virginia Street Bridge at First Street. "We felt that a decision had to be made and not go on and on and linger like so many things have in Reno (demolition of the Mapes, construction of the train trench). You have got to make decisions," he says.

The City of Reno will remove and replace the bridge rather than repair it, which would have cost significantly more.

In the future, Boyd, who married for the first time two years ago at age 67, wants to work on his house finishing remodeling projects, as well as spend time traveling.

"I will get to play a little bit of golf, and although I am not known for my golf skills, I enjoy it," he says. Boyd served as chairman of the Reno Tahoe Open until last year and now serves as the tournament's chairman emeritus.

But he will spend most of his time working on his first passion, literacy. Boyd serves as vice-chair of the non-profit Washoe County Education Foundation, headed by State Sen. Bill Raggio. The foundation generates supplemental funding to support local education.

"We have a lot of youngsters, even in this good school district, that cannot read at a reasonable level," he says. "It helps business when people know how to read, it helps society, and it help individuals make more of a success of their lives."