GLENWOOD SPRINGS – Strawberry Days organizer Cindy Svatos said she resigned Thursday from the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association because her job was about to be eliminated.

But despite the loss of the event’s key organizer, Chamber executive director Marianne Virgili said Strawberry Days is “in good working order.” The event is the weekend of June 21-22.

Svatos worked for the chamber for seven years as executive events director, organizing Strawberry Days and the chamber’s annual ball, as well as performing other duties since she began.

“I was presented with different options of the job that the chamber wanted it to go,” she said. “Basically my job was going to be eliminated and I wasn’t willing to do that.”

Svatos said right up until Thursday she was content with her job, so she was surprised when she found out about the chamber’s plan to cut her position and run the events on a contract basis. The change would have meant a substantial cut in pay and a loss of benefits for Svatos.

“It wasn’t a scandal, but I was unprepared for it,” she said. “I just didn’t want to change my job that way.”

Virgili said even though the Strawberry Days organizer is gone, the rest of the chamber employees should be able to manage the festival.

“The rest of the chamber staff has been here for a while, so we’re all familiar with it,” Virgili said.

Virgili also confirmed that the chamber plans to run its yearly events on a contract basis.

She said Svatos did an excellent job as executive events director and “brought Glenwood events to a new level.”

Svatos said her husband Tony is fully supportive of her decision.

“I’m sure they’ll get through Strawberry Days,” Svatos said. “And now I’m going to work in my yard.”

Contact Greg Masse: 945-8515, ext. 511

gmasse@postindependent.com