The Hiring Committee of Tennessee’s Sports Wagering Advisory Council (SWAC) met on Tuesday, Oct. 5 to discuss its ongoing process of hiring an executive director.
Three final contenders remain in the running for the position.
Executive director search narrowed to three finalists
During a previous meeting on Aug. 24, the Hiring Committee announced that nearly 45 applicants had filed for the role of executive director.
This committee, comprised of chair Michael Keeney along with SWAC members Haynes Torbett and Samuel Lee, has put extensive thought and research into narrowing down the selection since then.
They originally selected a group of 10 applicants, eventually getting the list down to the final three.
Ideally, the committee says it is looking for an executive director who both understands the legislative process and is familiar with the sports wagering industry.
In fairness to these finalists, however, applicant names are being withheld for the time being.
To end the meeting, the trio brought the SWAC up to speed on these recent developments and discussed scheduling public interviews for these three candidates.
SWAC public interview process
Although the hiring process remains on schedule, finding a qualified candidate for this role becomes more important every day. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2021, the SWAC will fully absorb all sports betting regulatory duties for the state of Tennessee.
Because of this, it’s crucial to have an executive director in place before then.
The committee’s goal is to complete the final evaluation process by mid-October. It will conduct interviews in person rather than remotely when possible.
Instead of leaving this final hiring decision up to the Rulemaking Committee alone, the entire SWAC will have a say in the selection.
The council intends to put the decision to a final vote on the same day that interviews are conducted.
The SWAC has tentatively scheduled its next meeting for Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. CT.
