After six years with the Natchez Chamber of Commerce, Anne Stowers is stepping down as its president and CEO.

&uot;It was just time for a change,&uot; Stowers said.

She will step down at the end of this month to take an advertising position with First Natchez Communications -WQNZ.

Since getting married this year and increasing the size of her family, Stowers said she has less time to devote to the job. She also had to decide what she wanted to do most during the next five years of her life.

&uot;Well I want to be able to spend more time with my children over the next five years and with my husband,&uot; she said.

But that aside, Stowers said she has enjoyed her work with the chamber. &uot;I have loved it. It has been challenging and exciting and rewarding,&uot; she said.

She first became employed with the chamber in 1995 as its office manager. She was named president and CEO in December 1996.

&uot;I think she’s done a tremendous job throughout the years,&uot; said Bobby Russ, chamber chairman. &uot;I just hated to see her leave.&uot;

Prior to working at the chamber, Stowers worked for the Natchez Convention and Visitor’s Bureau promoting tourism. That made the move to the chamber seem like a natural step.

&uot;I love this town, and I wanted to do something as far as promoting it, and that’s why I moved to the chamber,&uot; Stowers said.

During the past years, Russ said Stowers had performed her job in an efficient manner.

&uot;She’s been very vital to the success of the chamber,&uot; he said.

Once the chamber board picks her replacement and once the Natchez-Adams County Economic Development Authority selects its new director, Stowers says it would be like a fresh start for the community.

Those two people can carry on the positive things already taking place. &uot;We’re really starting to see some growth – some big growth,&uot; Stowers said.

Stowers said the chamber has also maintained excellent financial condition over the years and has even built a &uot;little nest egg.&uot; That could be useful if a natural disaster ever put a strain on local businesses and their ability to pay chamber dues. &uot;You have to have money in the reserve for things like that,&uot; Stowers said. Even though Stowers is leaving the chamber, she says she will continue to promote local businesses in her new position.

&uot;It’s not something you can just quit, and I don’t want to because I do still care about the town.

&uot;That hasn’t changed at all,&uot; Stowers said. &uot;Its just my focus is changing.&uot;

Now her job will be to promote the businesses through advertising and to help them get the most of their &uot;marketing dollar,&uot; she said.

She also will continue to work with the Natchez Downtown Development Association and Leadership Natchez.

Meanwhile, Russ said the chamber would soon create a search committee to locate a replacement.

&uot;We will do a thorough search to try to get the best person available to replace Anne,&uot; he said.

They would like to have someone in place by December, Russ said.

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