After 18 years, the CEO and general manager of Westerner Park has stepped down.
The Westerner Park board of directors made the announcement on Tuesday that John Harms would be leaving the organization to take a different direction in life.
Harms said in a news release that it is time to “pursue new opportunities” and he wishes everyone at Westerner Park continued success.
“He has helped guide our organization as our facilities grew, along with our customer base and he can proudly share in the successes we have achieved. We wish John well in his future endeavours,” said Kent Olson, president and board chair of the Westerner Exposition Association.
Harms helped get major projects like the Centrium and the Donald administration building off their feet, Olson added.
“We want to reiterate that in no way was this decision because of any inappropriate occurrence and John’s character and integrity is unquestioned. It’s a confidential matter and we do not want to discuss the decision any further,” Olson said.
The board will now be taking a different route to achieve it’s long-term strategic plan, which has been in the works since its implementation in 2008 and included various expansions, said Olson.
“We’re in the process of redefining that (route) as an organization right now but our long-term strategic plan has been public knowledge for some time. ... We’re re-evaluating at this point how we will propose that we get there,” said Olson.
The board will now begin searching for a new CEO and has asked Jim White, the assistant manager, to serve as acting CEO and general manager until that time.