Janet Reed, who has been executive director of the Durant Area Chamber of Commerce for almost 20 years, announced during a chamber board meeting last week that she is retiring effective January 2025. Reed said in her retirement letter that after 19 years of dedicated service, she decided it is time to begin her next life journey.
She said that during her tenure, she had the privilege of contributing to the success of the chamber and the community.
“Working with our board of directors, members, businesses and organizations has been an incredible journey, and I am grateful for my opportunities and experiences,” Reed said in her letter. “I have had the privilege of working alongside talented colleagues, engaging in meaningful projects, and contributing to the chamber and community’s success.”
Reed thanked her team, which includes chamber members, colleagues and the board of directors for their support, guidance and camaraderie through the years and said that she will always cherish the relationships and carry the memories as she moves forward.
“As I transition into my new journey, I am excited to pursue personal interests, explore new endeavors, travel and spend more time with my loved ones,” Reed said. “While I will miss this workplace’s daily interac- tions and challenges, I look forward to this new chapter with optimism and enthusiasm.”
Chamber President Rob Piearcy thanked Reed for her years of service and said that the board will establish a search committee for a new director. The executive committee will conduct interviews and bring the nominees to the full chamber board.
“We’ve got the rest of the year to do an adequate search to make sure the hand off is done adequately,” Piearcy said. “So, no big issue there other than you lose the one that brought you here.”
Reed, speaking during an interview after the meeting, said she is the longest-serving chamber executive director which she finds surprising.
“I didn’t really recognize that until about four years ago and someone made the comment to me that I was the longest- standing chamber director that they had had,” she said.
Reed said it is an exciting time for the city and she has seen so many things happen such as the continuing growth. The chamber, according to Reed, has been the driving force in major projects by the city and any taxes that have been passed.
“Any major political issue that have been crossed, we’ve been part of that,” Reed said. “It’s just been a pleasure to watch this city grow and thinking that our chamber has had the impact that it has had on the businesses and the community itself.”
Reed pointed out that has she has said many times, the success of the chamber is not her’s.
“We had brilliant forefathers,” Reed said. “When I first came, I didn’t realize because I had worked in this field before, but the boards I had seen consisted of anything from 12 to 15 as their standard board of directors. So, I had already taken the position and actually was preparing the first agenda and I just made the comment to (chamber director) Rick Hammel who was still here mentoring me into the position, I said, ‘How many board members do we have?’ He said, 42. I about lost it. ‘You’re telling me I have 42 direct bosses?’
“But it works. It’s worked beautifully for this community because it is the one meeting I feel like that you can sit down and every one of the people on that board report about their area. We have superintendent of schools. We have seated positions for the utilities that are still in town and all of the bank presidents have a seat. The Choctaw Nation has a seat. James Dry has been that appointee and he has been here. So, the tenure on the board has helped as far as the seated positions.”
She said there has never been any real disagreements within the chamber on major issues other than personalities were not always on the same page.
“When we walked out that door, we were all backing and supporting the same issue,” Reed said.
The chamber’s main role, Reed said, is keeping peace in the community and making sure that businesses have a foundation that they can exist on and thrive.
“So, that’s where the focus of the chamber is and should be,” Reed said. “We have been the hub of communication for the city for many years. The chamber is where people call to find out who’s in business, if they’re a member of the chamber. Anyone wanting to know where to go and what to see, calls to your chamber of commerce very first.”
Since Reed has been director, it has grown from one paid staff member, which was the director, and a part-time assistant. It currently has four paid full-time positions and Reed said they could put in another one which they will if the growth continues.
“I’ve watched the count of the chamber (members) triple since the beginning which it should have because being here 19 years, it should be that way,” Reed said. “Businesses have came and gone but we are still seeing businesses want to either relocate or come in. We’ve been instrumental in bringing in our larger manufacturing plants that we’ve had and that was working side by side with the DIA (Durant Industrial Authority). We have been seated on several different boards in the community and statewide which I think has helped bring recognition to the entire area, but basically to the city.”
She said the Durant Area Chamber of Commerce has an alliance with three chambers of commerce in Texas.
“We work very closely together and we have quarterly events that all four chambers share,” Reed said. “I think that’s necessary because of the growth that we see coming out of the Dallas area. Also, any new business that you have that hires more than 100 to 150 people is going to impact this entire area.
“With the TI (Texas Instruments) project that Sherman was fortunate enough to get, it’s going to impact us tremendously and if you are not working together as a regional chamber, it delays the success of any project that you have. So, that close relationship has to be there. You have to maintain the relationships with your federal elected officials as well as your state elected officials. You need to be able to stay on top of the bills that affect your businesses.”
She said that not knowing what each day would bring is one thing that kept the excitement for her.
“You don’t know what’s going to happen from day to day,” Reed said. “We were very fortunate during my tenure to host the President of the United States. That is something that I think was definitely a highlight.”
President Barack Obama spoke at the Durant High School in July 2015.
When asked if Durant has improved, Reed said, “It definitely has.”
In her resignation letter, Reed said she is committed to ensuring a smooth transition and completing any outstanding tasks before her departure.
“Once again, thank you for the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing community and chamber,” Reed said, in her letter. “I am proud of our work together, and I will always hold fond memories of my time here. I wish the Durant Area Chamber of Commerce and its dedicated team continued success.”
