The Hyack Festival Association is embarking on the hunt for a new executive director.
Melanie Vogel has resigned as the association's executive director effective Oct. 3.
"While I believe I am moving on for an exciting reason, I am sorry to leave," she said in a press release. "It has been a great honour and privilege to serve the community in New Westminster by putting on its major fun, family-oriented events such as the recently held Hyack Festival week and FraserFest, and to help organized Hyack's 40th anniversary. I hope residents and guests enjoyed all our festivals and festivities as much as we did."
Vogel, who has served as Hyack's executive director for the past two-and-a-half years, is proud of the changes that have been instituted at the association, including strengthening relationships with city hall and community partners, revising the design of promotional materials, and revitalizing FraserFest. She's also pleased with initiatives to bring the FraserFest fireworks back to the riverfront from Queensborough Landing and to support the youth centre, Greater Vancouver Food Bank and adopt-a-family program for Christmas.
"Our focus was mainly directed towards making the operations more efficient and effective," she said about her time as executive director. "We put a lot of effort in fine-tuning and improving many small details which resulted in a better operating system, more vibrant events, new revenue sources, improved community relationships and as a result a more positive feedback from the community. In addition I am happy that there are changes to come, which have already been set in motion."
Vogel plans to travel the world for an extended period of time, starting at the end of October.
"I am a traveller, and I haven't arrived yet," she said. "The Hyack Festival Association was an important destination in my life journey, but I felt I needed to start moving again. India will be my first destination on this world trip."
Rick Molstad, president of the Hyack Festival Association, joked that the board was tempted to take Vogel's passport from her so she wouldn't be able to leave.
"She has been a wonderful executive director for the past two-and-a-half years. She has instituted some changes in Hyack to make it fresh and not the same-old, same old," he said. "She has worked hard with us. Nobody has a better work ethic than Melanie. We are going to miss her."
The Hyack Festival Association's board has appointed a hiring committee to identify and hire a new executive director as soon as possible. In the meantime, the board will supervise day-to-day operations, supported by the office team.
