PASADENA, Md. – The Chesapeake Automotive Business Association (CABA) has signed an agreement with Skip Potter, the association’s CEO since 2004, to continue as executive advisor indefinitely, beyond May 13 when his resignation as CEO becomes effective.

Effective May 14, CABA President Doug Meekins will assume the chief executive role as a volunteer. Meanwhile, the CABA Board has promoted veteran CABA staff manager Sally Ernst to the newly created position of executive manager.

The trio of Meekins, Ernst and Potter as volunteer, staff and contractor is a new twist on the common state association management model, the group says. Typically, aftermarket state and niche associations are too small to afford the top management talent and extra staff necessary to execute an innovative, relevant and efficient organization. Utilizing the Executive Manager Management Model (Volunteer CEO/Staff Executive Manager/Contract Executive Advisor) the CABA Board believes they will be more economically efficient and can continue to grow and thrive as a valuable membership organization for local aftermarket small business in Maryland, D.C. and Delaware.

“I am fired up and excited about our future,” said Meekins, about the 50-year old association following the board's endorsement of the reorganization plan on April 27. “We (CABA) are very fortunate to have continued access to Skip’s expertise and connections. And this new management arrangement feels like a winning team already.”

Ernst, who has been employed by CABA for more than 20 years, “is the key to retaining the institutional knowledge and will continue to be instrumental in executing CABA’s impressive list of member benefits,” Meekins said.

“This is the best of both worlds for me,” added Potter. “I get to continue my work for CABA and at the same time cut out my 22,000 mile/year commute.”