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Former Chamber Executive Director Kim Winkler (left) was invited by the Burnet Fire Department for a ride in a newly purchased fire truck. Contributed/Kim Winkler
For nearly a dozen years, the steady, calm hand at the wheel behind the scenes at the Burnet Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center has been executive director Kim Winkler.
However, the self-described “multitasker” who oversees Burnet’s largest yearly event — the Bluebonnet Festival — is leaving the Chamber for another position in an amicable parting that has Chamber volunteers sad to see her go, but happy at the new opportunity life has presented someone who has been an ardent promoter of her adopted home of Burnet.
“This is nothing we anticipated or wanted, but when someone can go on to an other opportunity with her skillset and have a chance to shine, you wish them the best and are glad for them,” said Chamber president April Gordon. “And this is not truly goodbye, because Kim is not leaving the area and she will still be involved with Bluebonnet Festival and on other committees for the Chamber.”
Winkler said late Tuesday she has accepted a position as the new executive director of the Hill Country Children's Advocacy Center.
She grew up in Colorado and Texas before graduating from New Braunfels High School. She attended Sam Houston State University to study Radio, Television, and Film, and then went to graduate school at the University of Houston for management and marketing. She was hired as the Chamber executive director in 2010.
In addition to her work in steering the Bluebonnet Festival, Winkler also ran the Chamber and Visitor Center office and also spent a great deal of time helping to educate members and business owners through forums and workshops while also promoting both new and existing businesses within the community.
Through it all, Winkler managed to keep a healthy work-life balance, not just surviving but thriving under the pressure that comes with supervising a busy non-profit organization like the Chamber.
Chamber officials posted an job notice for the executive director position on their Facebook page Monday evening. They are seeking someone to provide executive leadership to the Burnet Chamber of Commerce to include financial management, personnel management and acting as the liaison for the Chamber with other organizations, Chamber membership, staff and the community.
“We will be looking for just another hard-working ‘Kim,’” Gordon said. “Someone who can organize and support our members and our community, work with the city and county and continue to make the Chamber a successful organization.”
The ideal candidate would have a minimum of 5 years management/executive level experience in a business-related field or other leadership position, including supervision of professional staff and oversight of finances and having previous Chamber management experience is preferred.
The new executive director is expected to have “a working knowledge of local, regional and state-level political systems and experience in developing collaborative relationships in these areas, a minimum of three years profit and loss (P&L) responsibility and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required; or comparable professional training and experience attained through industry or association service.”
A salary has not been announced, but will be “commensurate with qualifications and experience.”
Applicants should submit resumes to jobs@burnetchamber.org or 101 N. Pierce St., Ste. 1, Burnet, TX 78611. A complete job description is available by email, but phone calls are not being accepted for the position.
