The Kyle Area Chamber of Commerce announced on April 17 that Johnson & Associates would head up the search for the chamber's next executive director.

Former Executive Director Ray Hernandez announced his acceptance of a position with the Lewisville Chamber of Commerce on April 1.

Kyle chamber President Cale Baese said he expects the search to take about three months. The job description will be posted online for four to five weeks, he said.

"We're fairly confident we can get a very good replacement," Baese said. "The chamber is strong financially. We should have a pretty good selection of candidates to pick from."

At a monthly luncheon on April 23, membership director Caitlyn Pesl announced the chamber has added 38 new members in 2013. After the luncheon, Baese said there had been no disruption to the chamber's operations since Hernandez stepped down.

"Most of these types of events is just showing up and doing what we've always done," Baese said. "I think in the next few months we'll need to start keeping that pipeline full, but for right now, there's not really any kind of urgent need to make any changes or go out and get anything."

Baese said the chamber has consulted Johnson & Associates in the past regarding training. The firm is "very in-tune with the Texas chamber environment," he said.

According to a press release announcing the selection of Johnson & Associates, the firm has been conducting executive director searches since 1986.

Cindy Swink, former executive director of the Buda Area Chamber of Commerce, was in attendance at the luncheon and said she has some interest in applying for the Kyle chamber position. Swink resigned from her post as the Buda chamber's executive director on the same day as Hernandez.