When Teresa Russo-Cox and her husband, Terry, volunteered in July to lead the Chamber of Commerce as chair and vice-chair, respectively, their intent was to invigorate and refresh the business organization.

The couple resigned unexpectedly Nov. 4, leaving the Chamber without two of its top officers and another two board vacancies.

Immediate past president Shawn White and secretary-treasurer Debbie Skehen become the remaining officers.

In a statement to The Fountain Hills Times, the couple said “it is with a heavy heart and disappointment to announce that Terry and I have resigned…”

“We accepted the positions with great excitement and enthusiasm to help revitalize and bring change.

“We will miss the energy the members gave us, and to you, we apologize for our sudden exit. We do wish the Chamber success and best wishes in the future.”

Cox was scheduled to replace his wife as chair in July 2014. He is an Edward Jones financial advisor. Russo-Cox is a hair stylist at Russo Salon.

A previously scheduled board meeting is planned for today, Nov. 13, said Chamber President/CEO Frank S. Ferrara.

The board regularly meets the second Wednesday of the month.

In the absence of a chair and vice chair, Ferrara said either White or Skehen could conduct the meeting. If either of them chose not to preside, then Ferrara said he would.

The topic of filling the chair and vice chair positions board may be discussed, said Ferrara.

The board of directors currently consists of eight members, although the bylaws permit as many as 17.

Ferrara, a contract employee of the Chamber, is a voting member of the board.

The resignations are the latest in a string of personnel departures and changes:

*Chamber President/CEO Frank Ferrara announced Nov. 4 that he plans to retire at the end of 2014.

*Mark McDermott left his position as executive director of the Chamber’s Visitors Bureau effective Oct. 31 and resigned as a board member.

*Francesca Carozza of Sierra Madre Consulting chose not to renew a services agreement with the Visitors Bureau, effective July 1. She has assisted McDermott in providing operational services, marketing and creative strategy, advertising, public relations, vendor relations, and online and social media support.

*McDermott’s departure and expertise in tourism marketing resulted in Ferrara notifying the Town of Fountain Hills that it was cancelling a contract to promote tourism effective Dec. 31.

The town had allocated $103,000 in the 2013-14 budget at the request of the Chamber to head tourism marketing.

Ferrara has never commented on the reason for terminating the tourism agreement or McDermott’s decision to step down, leaving the tourism bureau without a director.

Other directors to resign in the last year were Doug Schmidt, Ronnie Sells and Dr. Bill Myhr.

Ferrara said the reasons behind the resignations are unrelated.

Chamber membership has declined from a high of 600 to about 425, said Ferrara. He attributes the decline to the recession and businesses focusing on keeping their firms operating.

Over the last three years, the Coxes have been involved in scheduling speakers for the monthly breakfasts or dinners, selecting candidates for Business Person of the Year award and supervising arrangements for the Chamber annual gala dinner in January.

Terry Cox also served on a new member outreach committee to learn from past and present members on the direction for the Chamber.