Lewis to retire from chamber

After 24 years of service to area businesses through the Kingdom of Callaway Chamber of Commerce, executive director Nancy Lewis will be leaving at the end of the year.

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Lewis is set to retire on Dec. 31, and while she has enjoyed her 21-year tenure at the head of the chamber, she said she is looking forward to a little bit of down time.

"I'm going to do whatever I decide," Lewis said in reply to a query regarding her retirement plans. "(My plans) are pretty open right now. That's the best part, to have options."

She said her time with the chamber has "been great."

"I have very much appreciated being a part of the community," Lewis said. "I'm going to miss all the people. It's always nice to meet new people, get new opinions and learn about what's going on in the community."

She said she also will miss being actively involved in business promotion and development and "being a part of the decisions that are made for the community."

Some of the most important decisions Lewis said she has been involved in over the years included assisting the Fulton Area Development Corporation in bringing Dollar General to Fulton and work to promote further development of the Ameren nuclear facility in Reform.

"That is going to be long-term, and you can really see a difference in the community with that," Lewis said.

Current chamber board president Marty Martin-Foreman said Lewis' decades of experience on such projects will be missed.

"When it comes time for an event, Nancy knows everything. Someone with that many years of experience is just invaluable," Martin-Foreman said. "She truly helps guide the board."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.