Many congratulated and thanked Janet Reed for her 19 years of service as executive director of the Durant Area Chamber of Commerce.
Reed has retired and a retirement party was held for her Jan. 23 at the Bell Tower Event Center.
Rob Piearcy, who was the chamber president last year, said he was touched by her work ethic, generosity and friendship.
Vann Dixon, who was once the chamber’s treasurer, said he was honored to be able to talk about her.
“Janet’s very special to me and I think she’s special to all you people or you wouldn’t be here tonight,” Dixon said. “Janet has been with the chamber as the chamber director for 19 years. The longest tenure of any chamber director we’ve had.”
Dixon said he got to know Reed in 2006 and that he had been the chamber treasurer about 10 years at that time.
“From the very beginning, I knew that it was going to be a different individual I was dealing with,” Dixon said. “She was always engaging, listened to everything you had to say and then when you got through talking to her and you would sit there and say, ‘This woman’s just going to do whatever the hell she wants to.’” The audience erupted in laughter at that comment.
Dixon recalled that first and foremost for Reed when discussing the chamber’s budget was getting raises for the employees.
“She would always say, ‘Don’t give me one,’” Dixon said. ‘“If it means they don’t get one, take mine out of the system and make sure they do.’ That just shows you what kind of person and what kind of leader Janet was or is.
“Under Janet’s leadership, she was instrumental in the growth and the success of the Magnolia Festival, getting the tourism tax passed, starting the Leadership Durant class and Durant’ s Young Professionals, countless grants, fundraising efforts, strengthening the chamber’s relationship with the tribe and advancing the chamber’s technological capability, just to name a few of her things.”
Dixon’s daughter, Savanna Hill congratulated Reed, whom she said not only made it as a woman in this world, but made it her world.
Joe Hill, Savanna’s husband, said he saw many members of Reed’s family in attendance and he asked them to raise their hands.
“To do a job like Janet did for so many years, everyone of those people that raised their hand are impacted,” Hill said. “Janet, you dedicated so many years of your life to this community and I want to personally tell you all, thank you for letting us borrow her.”
Hill said he came to Durant when he was 18 years old to attend college.
“I want all of you to take a moment in time right now and think about what Durant looked like 20 years ago,” Hill said. “For those of you that have been here, I think you all will remember and then you see the success, the growth and the activity that has occurred over that time period here. Now, I’m not saying all of that is because of Janet Reed but I am going to tell you she’s been a part of all that.”
Choctaw Nation District 9 Council Member James Dry said Reed is a relationship builder and that he was lucky to have been selected to serve on the chamber board.
Dry spoke of how Reed has helped the community grow.
“It’s amazing how much Durant has grown but it’s because of relationship building in the community with the Choctaw Nation and that’s what it’s all about,” he said. “I tell people all the time we’re so blessed to live in Durant because when there’s a tragedy or anything, successful things go on. This community really comes together and Janet’s been a part of this community here all the years at the chamber.”
Oklahoma State Rep. Cody Maynard, on behalf of himself and State Senator David Bullard, presented Reed with a citation of congratulations from the State of Oklahoma.
He spoke of Reed’s accomplishments.
“The moments you have created for us and the years that you have given to us, I want to say thank you so much for that,” Maynard said. “So Janet, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. We love you and we expect to still see you around even though you’re not in the chamber.”
Chamber President Matt Hunt said he could not say anything that has not already been said about Reed.
“One, she is a firecracker and I have learned that very well over the last couple of months, but she is loved and she loves our community and our community loves her,” Hunt said.
Reed expressed appreciation to everyone.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she said. “I can’t do this without a few tears. “At the (chamber) banquet, there was one thing I said, ‘First of all, I’m always part of you and always will be.’ Thank you to all of those that have helped me in this journey.”
Reed asked all of those who had been president of the chamber to stand and she thanked them for their service to the community.
“I did not do this,” Reed said. “It takes a team to do anything and we have a fabulous team in this community. Keep going. Keep reaching for the stars because they’re there and people get them, I promise. This community deserves to be the best that it can possibly be because we have the best people that I know of.”
