VIDALIA — When the Concordia Parish Chamber of Commerce installs four new directors this month, the organization has plans to change how things are done in an effort to best meet the needs of the local business community.

The four directors — Josh Wilson with United Mississippi Bank, Emily Hazlip with Hazlip Companies, Jenny Branton with Heritage Manor and James Lee with the Concordia Parish School Employees Federal Credit Union — were chosen by the Chamber’s general membership in December.

Chamber Executive Director Jamie Wiley said once the new board members are seated, the whole board would essentially operate as two boards, one focused on events and the other focused on improving local business.

“We have kind of recognized that the Chamber has been more event oriented, and Josh (Wilson) said, ‘If I am going to accept this nomination, I would like to forewarn you I am going to be tough. I want to see more about the businesses,’ which I agree with,” Wiley said.

“We will split the board, and half will be totally events, while the other half will look at bringing in classes and more government updates and training for businesses. We want to bring it full circle so that the businesses get more advantages to being Chamber members.”

The new board members were nominated from the Chamber’s membership and represent a desire to see the local business community move forward, Wiley said.

“I think most of the people who were doing the nominating this year wanted to see some fresh, young business-minded people who are going to be active and really take part and work to benefit the Chamber and local business,” she said.

Hazlip said she looks forward to taking on something new with her role as a Chamber board member.

“I am really interested in the Chamber, so hopefully I can learn more and help others with what we do, and become more involved with the community,” she said.

The first order of business for the Chamber board will be to select an executive committee: president, vice president, secretary and treasurer, Wiley said.

In the long-term, Wiley said she wants to see more of Concordia Parish’s outlying businesses join the Chamber, which was formed in 2011 by combining the former Vidalia and Ferriday Chambers of Commerce into a single unit meant to represent the entire parish.

“One of the goals I would like to see happen at the end of this year is to get members involved from the Wildsville, Monterey and Acme areas, because they are a part of this community, too,” she said.

The Chamber’s general membership meeting for January will be its annual awards banquet, slated for 6 p.m. Jan. 16.