Room at the Top

A leadership shake-up rocks two of the county’s big nonprofits.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Monterey County Film Commision Executive Director Greg Robinson is off the job as of Oct. 31 and Steve Wille, the top man at the Monterey County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, stepped down suddenly Oct. 19.

Robinson, formerly an associate dean at the Defense Language Institute, blames the tough economy for his firing. The film commission, which is largely publicly funded, had its budget slashed by 20 percent because of sharp cuts in funding by the city of Monterey and the county.

“Add all those reductions together, and something’s got to give,” Robinson said.

The film commission won’t replace Robinson. Instead, the agency will hire a professional fundraiser to attempt to bridge its funding gap, he said.

MCCVB Board Chair MIke Oprish was tight-lipped about Wille’s departure. Oprish, who manages Bernardus Lodge in Carmel Valley, wouldn’t say whether Wille quit or was sacked, or even when the decision to part ways was made or why.

“I can’t comment on his contributions or experience,” Oprish said.

Board member Bob Cowdrey, a retired executive at Pebble Beach resorts, has already stepped into the CEO position—at least temporarily. Cowdrey will lead the search for a permanent CEO, who the MCCVB hopes to have in place early next year, according to Oprish.