COBB COUNTY - The Cobb County Convention & Visitors Bureau conducted its 17th annual meeting Monday afternoon, capping a controversial year for the bureau.

Joyce Calandra, the bureau's former CEO, was fired in October after she publicly opposed a merger between the CVB and the Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority. This left a vacant, important leadership role that has yet to be filled.

The merger proposal has since been tabled, and the new chairman, who was appointed Monday, said he has no expectations to support it.

"I was going to vote 'no' if a vote was taken," said Chairman Don Geiger, general manager of the Residence Inn by Marriott-Town Center. "The area I represent, in Kennesaw, and the Cobb hotel industry are both adamantly opposed to it, so I have to represent my area and their interests."

Other positions on the board of directors were appointed Monday, including: Vice Chairman Jeff Drobney, executive director of the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw; Secretary Ron Reinhold, director of sales and marketing for the Renaissance Waverly Hotel; and Treasurer Bob Weatherford, Alderman for the city of Acworth.

The Exhibit Hall Authority elected two new members to the board Monday morning, appointing Doug Chaffins, a Cobb CPA, and Lee Schulman, managing partner of Stoney River Legendary Steaks. Three other positions on the board are expected to be appointed in January, one from the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce, one from the Cobb County Board of Commissioners and one from the Tradeshow Alliance.

Geiger said he will take a "balanced approach to the vigorous debate that has played out in the past year," referring to the merger proposals.

"I think there's a lot of tweaking to do, and it's important to bring everyone to the table and discuss this," he said. "Some people think we have no value, but if we had no value, we would not have stood up and fought this."

Geiger said the most important quality for the next CEO is that he or she shows strong leadership skills.

"I don't know what it's going to take to keep someone in this position and make everyone happy, but if they can come in and provide strong leadership with a CVB background, then I think they will do a great job," he said.

Although it may take longer to actually have someone operate in the position, Geiger said he is hopeful that the group can decide on a new CEO by the end of January.

The former chairman, president of Northwest Bank & Trust Michael Knowles, agreed that it is important for the bureau to show its worth.

"The board has challenges," he said. "We need new funding, and new leadership. After several months of dialogue, the merger was tabled in 2009. But the status quo is no longer a long-term option. And even though there is no long-term conclusion yet, the benefit is that this has raised attention and value to our members and this community. We do have value and importance as an economic contributor, and the business-as-usual approach needs to be re-thought."