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DSA Director McCurry resigns to take new job in New York
By Stephanie Salmons
Downtown Sylva Association Director Kyle McCurry – who was hired in late July – has resigned to move to upstate New York for a new job.
His resignation came last Thursday, DSA President Marybeth Druzbick said.
McCurry’s last day with the DSA will be Wednesday, Oct. 15, and he said he will begin work at a radio station in the Ithica, N.Y., area the following Monday.
“My reason for leaving the Downtown Sylva Association has nothing to do with the DSA,” he said. “I was a graduate of communication and broadcasting. My love has always been radio.”
McCurry, who graduated from Western Carolina University and is currently pursuing his master’s degree there, said he decided at the end of last semester to pursue a job elsewhere and gave himself three months to find something.
The offers that turned up, however, were not exactly what he was looking for, and McCurry said he decided to continue on with graduate school, which is when he applied for the DSA position.
“Three weeks ago, a station tracked me down and asked ‘What will it take to get you here?’ ” he said. “We worked out a deal I couldn’t turn down. It’s exactly what I had been wanting, and I decided to take it. I’m a firm believer that you have to take opportunities when they come.”
While McCurry said that DSA members knew that he would eventually leave to pursue a career in broadcasting, it was unexpected that such a position would come up so quickly.
Although his tenure at the DSA was short, McCurry said that the organization has made a lot of progress.
“We made sure our name’s out there,” he said. “All we have is momentum behind us. My feeling is we will make a smooth transition (to a new director).”
Leaving town is bittersweet, McCurry said. “I’ve been at WCU since 2003,” he said. “The town has been a huge part of my life.”
However, the DSA is on the right track for continued success, he said.
“The best years have yet to come for the Downtown Sylva Association,” McCurry said. “I’m happy to have spent the little amount of time here that I have.”
Druzbick said that while she is disappointed they are losing McCurry, “because I think he’s great,” she is excited for him and his career growth.
According to Druzbick, DSA board members have not yet had a chance to discuss the next steps in finding a replacement, but the item was scheduled to be discussed at the group’s monthly board meeting Wednesday (Oct. 8).
“Our intention is to fill the position as quickly as possible,” she said.
Although his tenure at the DSA was short, Druzbick said that McCurry “has really gotten out to meet people downtown, on the Sylva town board and be out there to hear what people have to say, see what they need and really give a face to DSA.”
DSA has been fortunate to have directors who were “out and about” in the town, and the board will look for someone who will follow that lead, Druzbick said.
“We look at DSA as a service organization to help small business owners in the community, and that’s not going to change,” she said. “That’s been the mission since the beginning of SPIR (Sylva Partners in Renewal).”
The name has changed, but the mission hasn’t, Druzbick said.
“We wish Kyle well,” she said. “He’s been in the Sylva community for several years, and we will always look forward to having him back. He’s done a great job. Where he’s going and what he’s doing is a fabulous opportunity for him, and he has a bright future ahead of him.”
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