Green’s protege, Hayden Guest, tabbed to run Oxford Conference Center

After serving as Director of the Oxford Conference Center for nearly a decade, Hollis Green has spent the last two weeks being a sponge at City Hall.

Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill announced last Tuesday that Green is now the director of the new Department of Developmental Services in the City of Oxford.

Green’s new role goes along with the theme of consolidation Mayor Tannehill adapted over the course of the last year. Oxford Electric became Oxford Utilities, and now three other departments in the city – planning, building and engineering – will all be consolidated under the Department of Developmental Services’ roof.

“It’s three individual departments with three different services that are all related to each other,” Green said. “I want to enhance what they’re doing.”

At the Board of Aldermen meeting on Nov. 6, Tannehill said Oxford’s fast growth required some extra help coordinating upcoming plans that are on the horizon.

“We have new projects coming in the door,” Tannehill said. “We believe this is a way to streamline the process.”

Green said his new position was an opportunity for him to develop, as he doesn’t have experience in planning, building or engineering, and he plans to spend his first year learning the most

However, he said he does have an understanding of how those services operate, and says he’s looking forward to offering advice on the three different services.

Since taking over two weeks ago, Green said he’s spend his first days on the job going around and meeting and visiting with his new staff. While it’s been a whirlwind meeting so many new people, Green said the personnel the city has in place is outstanding.

“They’re the experts,” he said. “I’m trying my best to listen.”

In his stead at the Oxford Conference Center, Hayden Guest, who has been the conference center’s sales director for the last decade, is now the conference center’s new director.

“Hayden is ready for this job,” Green said of his successor. “I predict the conference center will have record sales.”