The executive director of the Cortez Cultural Center will start leading the Cortez Area Chamber of Commerce in April.

Jeff Weinmeister helped keep the cultural center open and continues to lead it through fundamental changes.

“Over the last few months, we’ve done what the community has asked us to do, and that’s become relevant,” he said, pointing out that the center’s Paint and Sip classes, have been sold out since November.

The center’s leadership had discussed selling the building this summer, and is preparing to unveil the first phase of major changes to the gift shop and art gallery at the end of February.

Weinmeister will likely join the cultural center’s board after he becomes the executive director of the chamber, said board president Lee Bergman.

“He has real passion about this and wants to see it succeed,” Bergman said.

Although Weinmeister has not set formal goals with the chamber’s board, he said he plans to offer workshops for local businesses.

“I enjoy the consulting aspect of that, helping an organization identify their challenges and helping them develop a solution to help address those challenges,” he said.

He also sees an opportunity to promote Cortez as a fall destination by working with Mesa Verde Country, a regional marketing organization.

Weinmeister goes to the chamber with experience working with the Walt Disney Co., Vail Resorts and the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games of 2002.

mshinn@durangoherald.com