Chamber director’s move leaves ‘void’ for Haines City

HAINES CITY — Another well-known name will be leaving Haines City, but this time, it’s not a city employee.

Betsy Cleveland, 43, executive director of the Haines City Area Chamber of Commerce, will be leaving to take a job as director of community services with the Polk Supervisor of Elections, beginning in November.

“It was so unbelievably tough (to leave),” Cleveland said. “This is my hometown, so it has been very personal to me. When I was looking at the duties there and my skill set here, it easily translates.”

Cleveland had been executive director of the chamber for about eight years. Over that time, the chamber has seen membership grow by more than 100. Also rising were retention rates, programs and outreach opportunities.

“She was born and raised in Haines City, so her entire life was in this job,” said Cyndi Jantomaso, president and CEO of the Haines City Economic Development Council and a chamber board member. “It’s sad to see her go, but she’s moving on to bigger and better things. She’s going to be very hard to replace.”

Karen Tiner, owner of Ameriprise in Haines City and the chamber board’s chair-elect, said Cleveland’s biggest strengths are her positive attitude and ability to make people feel good.

“Betsy was very proactive as executive director and was very effective in bringing businesses together and making new companies feel welcomed in the community,” Tiner said. “She could reach out to anyone. She not only does her job effectively, but she really cares about the Haines City area and community.”

How to go about replacing her will be a board of directors’ decision. During the board meeting Wednesday, the executive committee will have a plan-of-action report, which could allow the board to form a committee or give it a recommendation. It will also lay out qualifications and a pay rate for Cleveland’s successor.

“It’s going to create a big void in Haines City,” said Martha Santiago, a board member and provost of Polk State College’s Winter Haven campus. “She just has a great personality and builds really strong relationships with people. She’s just a down-toearth, sweet person and it’s nice to have a person like that in her role.”

Among the things Cleveland said she’s most proud of during her tenure is bringing “synergy” between the chamber and EDC.