NATCHEZ — After a couple weeks in office, the new Natchez Chamber of Commerce president and CEO is getting her feet on the ground.

After 30 years in Natchez, 20 of which she taught school, Debbie Hudson left to work in Kingsport, Tenn., and Jackson.

She has written grants and worked in public relations, economic development and workforce training.

Now, she has returned to Natchez and says she can’t wait to dig in to her new role.

“I’m becoming familiar with the board members and all,” Hudson said. “My second day, we were off and running — I had my first executive meeting and board meeting.”

The chamber president serves as a liaison between the community, chamber members and the board of directors. Hudson said she talked with the previous chair and found what was successful in the past.

“We’re working on getting a survey to our current members to find out what they like and don’t like and what they see in the future,” she said.

Hudson said she hoped to recruit new businesses as members of the chamber in the near future.

“I like to get people together,” she said. “I see that as my role, to help put all these different businesses — businesses in tourism, public, private and government — together and to help businesses in our community look better.

“Everybody’s for that same goal of seeing Natchez be successful.”

The diversities of businesses are sometimes challenging, she said.

Small businesses, big businesses, government and economic development groups sometimes have different ways of doing things, she said.

“We don’t always all play together, and I want to see that we do that,” she said. “I want to see us work together. The only way to do that is to come to each other’s table.”

Pat Biglane, chair of the chamber board, said Hudson was already “working out great.”

“She’s hit the ground running,” Biglane said.

Hudson has items on her plate, such as helping with the budget and preparing for the chamber’s annual dinner, he said.

Hiring a longtime Natchez resident meant the new president was already familiar with the area and its workings, Biglane said.

“She knows of Natchez, all the agencies and organizations here and the individuals involved,” he said. “It just gets us further down the road.”

The chamber is lucky to have hired Hudson, and she promises to be an asset to building the town’s business future, he said.

“One thing Debbie has stressed is that it’s a team thing,” he said. “Everybody’s got to work together to promote Natchez and the Miss-Lou.”