UPDATE: Guthrie steps down as director of Quincy’s downtown district to take job with Chamber of Commerce

QUINCY — Bruce Guthrie announced Friday morning he was leaving his position as Executive Director of “The District”, the organization that promotes downtown Quincy businesses and events.

His new position, president and CEO of The Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce, was made public Friday afternoon about seven hours later.

Guthrie, a former executive with the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, has been at the post with the District for seven years. His last day will be Nov. 12.

“My wife and I moved back to the community in 2014 and did not know what Quincy had in store for us,” Guthrie said in an e-mail to District members. “I knew I wanted an opportunity to make the community a better place. I was approached about the executive director position and was fortunate to be hired.”

Guthrie’s first day with the Chamber of Commerce will be Nov. 15. He replaces LaTonya Brock, who stepped down from the position July 30 to take a job with Inclusity of Perrysburg, Ohio, which focuses on building and sustaining initiatives for diversity and inclusion, culture change and leadership development. 

“I look forward to working with the Board of Director, staff, members and community partners to develop programs and initiatives that assist our local businesses to be successful and create a dynamic community,” Guthrie said in a press release from the Chamber of Commerce.

As president and CEO, Guthrie will be instrumental in the enhancement of the services and support the Chamber of Commerce provides to the business community. The chamber has more than 600 members.

“The chamber will be forever grateful for the contributions provided by Phil Conover as the interim president and CEO, and we play to maximize the momentum to propel the organization forward,” said Chaka Batley, chair of the Board of Directors, in the press release. “The chamber has an opportunity to build upon our brand by prioritizing the needs of our members and moving forward with our continued support of all the community efforts of our members and moving forward with our continued support of all the community efforts in collectively creating a new ‘normal’ in the current climate.”

Guthrie said he is proud of what happened in downtown Quincy during his tenure. The organization he is leaving was previously also known as Uptown Quincy and the Historic Quincy Business District before being rebranded as “The District.”

“The downtown has seen so much development and growth the past seven years,” Guthrie wrote. “This has not been accomplished without the hard work of the Board of Directors, staff, diplomats, volunteers and members of the District. I am continued to be awed by what this organization has done for our community. I admire and respect what you and your business does each and every day. You all make the District a stronger organization, and you make the community a better place to live, work and play. I am proud to have been your executive director.”

Guthrie was proud to note many recent developments such as the View 21 project at Third and Maine, the renovated Patio restaurant, plus improvements in the Sixth Street Promenade project such as the Taproom, Quincy Brewing Company, the under-construction Pickeman’s Pantry and the upcoming conversion of Illinois State Bank building at Sixth and Hampshire into a boutique hotel, restaurant and rooftop bar.