Amid a slew of internal controversy, Rich Holladay says the climate at Leadership Clarksville is “no longer tenable” as he prepares to resign from the organization on Monday, November 28th.
Holladay was hired as the Executive Director in June of 2021 and was the organization’s first change in leadership in over thirty years, as Carol Dorris retired after 34 years in the position. Insiders tell Clarksville Today the original founders of the organization, Jim Mann, De Boaz, Carol Doris, and Darwin Eldridge, and acting President Judge Joel Wallace, railroaded Holladay into retirement to put in a new Director, rumored to be Christina Clark.
During Holladay’s brief tenure, the program seemed to once again “be alive” and have an excitement about it, and was no longer considered a relic of ‘old Clarksville’ with lots of new members and events. It is unclear if that momentum will remain under the new leadership and newfound upheaval of leadership.
Holladay says he made the decision with his family earlier this month. In an email to alumni, Holladay asked them to “do not lose faith in this wonderful program. Remember it is about ‘we’ and not ‘me.’ and reminded members that the ‘VAST majority of Trustees Alumni were there to assist but stopped short of naming the ones that were not, and had been a part of his resignation.