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Champaign County chamber leader resigns for position in Union County

Executive director Tina Knotts helped grow membership by 25%.

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By Matt Sanctis, Staff Writer Updated 11:15 PM Wednesday, December 14, 2011

URBANA — After spending most of the last three years promoting Champaign County, Tina Knotts said Wednesday she is resigning to take a similar position with a neighboring county.

Knotts, executive director of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau since late 2008, will continue serving until the end of the year. In January, she will take a position as the director of programs, tourism and public relations for the Union County Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

Knotts said she enjoyed serving in Champaign County, but said her role in Union County will be more clearly defined.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity I’ve had here and I’m thankful for working with so many amazing, compassionate folks,” Knotts said.

During her time as executive director, membership in the chamber increased by 25 percent. She also helped the chamber launch a new web site, and increased the use of social media to promote the county.

Before taking the position, Knotts had previously worked as a senior buyer for Gooseberry Patch, served as director for the United Way of Champaign County and owned a small retail business in downtown Urbana.

Than Johnson, president of the chamber’s board of trustees, said the chamber will continue to operate until a new executive director is found. He said several of the chamber’s annual events, including the barn quilt tour and balloon festival, grew significantly under Knotts’ watch.

He said the chamber’s strong position will help make it more attractive to other potential candidates. In the meantime, he said the chamber’s board members will meet later this week to discuss a transition plan and recruitment process to hire a new director.

“We’re going to continue with the strengths she has brought to the chamber,’ Johnson said.

Knotts said she will continue to live in Champaign County with her husband, Mike.

“Champaign County will always be home,” she said.

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