The head of Sarnia Lambton's Chamber of Commerce has some advice for his successor as he prepares to retire on March 1.
CEO Allan Calvert said it was a "massive decision" to opt to retire during the ongoing pandemic.
"The more and more I looked within, I thought, now is a good time," he said. "I'm blessed to have good health and I'm blessed to have a great family and I want to spend more time keeping my health and looking after the family."
Calvert said with family located in various parts of the province and on Vancouver Island, it will be nice to visit for more than just a few days or a week at a time.
"I'm very fortunate to be able to do this at this stage in my career. It's a very difficult decision because I absolutely am not only passionate about the area, I'm passionate about this Chamber of Commerce and how they welcomed me to this position."
Calvert joined the local Chamber of Commerce in June of 2020.
He said whoever steps into the role of CEO following his retirement will receive a warm welcome.
"Come in with lots of energy, an open mind, and open arms because you will definitely be embraced by this community -- and not just by the chamber members but the community at large," said Calvert.
"I was embraced by the executive, by the board here at the chamber, and by the broader membership of this Chamber of Commerce. That's what has helped us navigate our way through the last 22 months."
In addition to dealing with challenges presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Calvert said the chamber expects another busy year with two upcoming elections.
The chamber's board of directors issued a statement to express how Calvert will be missed.
"I speak for the entire Board of Directors when I say that Allan brought enthusiasm and dedication to the role that will be greatly missed. It was a pleasure having him lead our chamber," said Board Chair Kathleen Mundy in a statement.
As the chamber board searches for Calvert's replacement, the board is accepting interest from candidates via info@slchamber.ca.