Board member resigns from Tennessee Multicultural Chamber

photo VW North American Region purchasing director Thomas Loafman

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A board member for the Tennessee Multicultural Chamber of Commerce resigned today, citing a lack of investigation by the board and an unwillingness to put Executive Director Sherrie Gilchrist on at least a temporary suspension.

Thomas Loafman, director of purchasing for Volkswagen Group of America, wrote in a resignation letter today that VW supports the chamber's mission, but that the board decided against steps last week he said were needed.

Some of the largest steps, he wrote, included an "investigation should have been immediately requested" and that Gilchrist "should have been put on at least a temporary suspension of duties" until an audit and investigation were concluded.

The chamber has been under fire for a week after a city audit detailed financial mismanagement, extravagant salaries and travel expenses, and questionable loans and land purchases.

For more information, read tomorrow's Times Free Press.

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