The Board of Directors of Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corporation shall consist of no less than twenty-two (22) and no more than thirty-four (34) directors, excluding emeritus directors. Sixteen (16) members of the board shall be members of the following organizations, and may serve for only so long as they continue to be a member of said organizations:
- CarolinaEast Health System
- Craven Arts Council & Gallery
- Craven Community College
- Craven County Administration
- Craven County Economic Development Commission
- Craven County Commissioner
- New Bern Development Services Department
- New Bern Municipal Service District Advisory Board
- New Bern Alderman
- New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce
- New Bern Administration
- New Bern Department of Public Works
- New Bern Historical Society
- New Bern Preservation Foundation
- Tourism Development Authority
- Tryon Palace
Up to eighteen (18) additional members shall be elected from the community who either demonstrate interest in the objectives and work of Swiss Bear or who represent identifiable segments of the community.
An unlimited number of directors designated as “emeritus” may be elected. Emeritus directors shall have all the rights and obligations of other directors, including the right to vote. Qualifications and other requirements to be elected as an emeritus director may be established by the board.
All directors shall be elected by the vote of the majority of directors in office at the annual board meeting and shall serve three-year terms. Terms of office shall begin on January 1. To the extent practical, the terms of the directors shall be staggered into classes so that the terms of approximately one-third (1/3) of the directors shall expire each year. A Director may be removed for cause by a two-thirds vote of the remaining directors present, and any such director shall be given five days advance written notice of the meeting at which such removal shall be voted upon. In the event of the removal of a director, a new director may be elected at that time or at any subsequent meeting. A vacancy in the board shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by a majority vote of the remaining directors.
The purpose of Swiss Bear is to promote and sponsor employment and commercial revitalization within the City, particularly its downtown residential and commercial areas.
The board of directors shall be responsible for: (1) keeping a record of all of the board’s acts and affairs; (2) keep a record of all receipts and disbursements; (3) have periodic reviews of the corporate books; (4) present an annual report of all receipts and disbursements to each director no less than thirty (30) days prior to the date of the annual meeting; (4) oversee and set the compensation for all managers, officers, agents, employees or other persons employed by Swiss Bear; and (5) ensure that all offices, employees or managers having fiscal responsibility are bonded as the board deems appropriate.
Board meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 a.m. in the Chamber of Commerce meeting room located at 316 South Front Street. The annual board meeting is held in December.
Current RosterName | Term Expires | Appointing Authority |
Judy Avery | 12/2014 | Craven County Arts Council & Gallery |
Alex Badger | N/A | Emeritus |
Sabrina Bengel | 12/2016 | At Large |
John Bircher | 12/2014 | At Large |
Jim Bisbee (Vice Chair) | 12/2015 | At Large |
Dallas Blackiston | 12/2016 | City of New Bern Board of Aldermen |
Charles Blythe | N/A | Emeritus |
David Blythe | 12/2014 | At Large |
Tom Braaten | 12/2016 | At Large |
Catherine Chew | 12/2014 | Craven Community College |
Gary Curry | 12/2016 | At Large |
Timothy Downs | 12/2014 | Craven County Economic Development |
William Faulkenberry | N/A | Emeritus |
Bill Fentress | N/A | Emeritus |
Janet Francoeur | 12/2016 | At Large |
John Haroldson | 12/2014 | At Large |
Mary Harris | 12/2016 | Craven County Tourism Development Authority |
Jimmie Hicks | 12/2014 | At Large |
Robert (Dell) Ipock | N/A | Emeritus |
Paul Johnson | N/A | Emeritus |
Philippe Lafargue | 12/2015 | Tryon Palace |
Joe Mansfield | 12/2016 | New Bern Preservation Foundation |
Julian Marsh | 12/2016 | At Large |
Bob Mattocks | 12/2014 | At Large |
Charles McCotter | N/A | Emeritus |
Nelson McDaniel | 12/2015 | New Bern Historical Society |
Tom McGraw (Chair) | 12/2016 | At Large |
Buzz Mead | N/A | Emeritus |
Susan Moffat-Thomas | Serves for her duration as Executive Director | Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corporation |
Tom Payne | 12/2015 | At Large |
Mary Peterkin | 12/2015 | At Large |
Lonnie Pridgen, Jr. | N/A | Emeritus |
Ernest Richardson, III | 12/2016 | New Bern Municipal Service District Advisory Board |
Daniel (Sonny) Roberts | N/A | Emeritus |
Kevin Roberts | 12/2016 | New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce |
Bill Rust | N/A | Emeritus |
Stewart Smith | N/A | Emeritus |
David Stroud | 12/2015 | At Large |
Cythia Turco | 12/2014 | CarolinaEAST Health System |
Steve Tyson | 12/2016 | Craven County Commissioner |
Jack Veit | 12/2016 | Craven County Administration |
Jamara Wallace | 12/2016 | At Large |
John Ward | N/A | Emeritus |
Curt Williford | 12/2016 | At Large |
TBD | 12/2014 | Director, City of New Bern Public Works Department |