The Greater Salisbury Committee has named longtime Salisbury resident Mike Dunn as its next President and CEO.

The announcement was made Tuesday by Mat Tilghman, Chairman of the Greater Salisbury Committee.

“I am extremely pleased and excited about Mr. Dunn becoming part of our organization,” Tilghman said. “I see it as a continuation of Mr. Dunn’s love of and long commitment to our community.  His ability to see a community need and then implementing a solution will be invaluable.”

Jim Thomas, who has served as Acting President/CEO since the summer, said Dunn was the right choice.

“GSC had a thorough selection and vetting process and we believe Mike is the right person for the job.  He will bring community knowledge, energy and passion to the job.  We are excited to have him as our next president,” Thomas said.

Dunn’s hire comes after a four-month national search to find a successor to former Executive Director Jan Wiseman, who passed away in June. Dunn will assume his responsibilities on Jan. 4.

“I am humbled, honored, and excited to have been chosen to help lead the Greater Salisbury Committee into its next phase,” Dunn said.

“The Greater Salisbury Committee has a track record of success in identifying our community’s needs and, once identified, finding solutions to those needs,” he said.

“I look forward to bringing the expertise of the Greater Salisbury Committee’s members to the table with area community leaders, business professionals, and elected officials to solve problems and to explore new opportunities.”

Salisbury Mayor Jake Day said he supported the organization’s move.

"The Greater Salisbury has made a fantastic choice in a leader to help the organization take new steps to help transform our city,” Day said. “Mike Dunn has proven himself to be a community-minded person who builds capacity in others. Whether through Red White & Boom, Winter Wonderland of Lights or many other endeavors, his heart for Salisbury shines through."

Dunn joins the Greater Salisbury Committee with a wide range of professional and civic experience. He is a former President of the Salisbury City Council, a former Chair of the Wicomico Relay For Life, and the current Chair of Red White and BOOM, Salisbury’s 4th of July fireworks celebration.

Dunn is also currently on the Board of Directors at Coastal Hospice. Professionally, Dunn was most recently employed as a marketing representative with Apple Infusion, a division of Apple Discount Drugs. Prior to that, he worked for 10 years at Delmarva Public Radio, where he was the Corporate Support Director and, at the time of his departure, the station’s Interim General Manager.

In addition, Dunn spent a decade working with Aventis Pharmaceuticals, as a sales rep and, in the 1980s was a general assignment reporter for WBOC-TV.

Dunn lives in Salisbury with his wife, Karen.