Parrett to leave Jackson Chamber

Jackson Chamber of Commerce executive director Ken Parrett is stepping down from the position March 31, he announced in late November.

Parrett is moving to Poplar Bluff where his wife accepted a regional administrative position with the Missouri Division of Youth Services.

Parrett has headed the chamber for six years since moving here from Rolla following a career in the military.

When he accepted the position in 1998, the chamber had 159 members. There are 440 members today.

Dr. Ron Anderson, the chamber board president, said it will meet some time in December to discuss hiring a replacement. Anderson anticipates advertising for an executive director in January and having a replacement hired before Parrett leaves.

Parrett plans to start his own management services business. He'll organize business retreats and offer marketing plans and strategic planning.

Jackson Mayor Paul Sander, who has served on the chamber board for 20 years, said the biggest improvement he's seen on Parrett's watch is an evolution from a social-oriented chamber to a business-oriented chamber. In part that has occurred through connections with the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association, Sander said.