By JAN GRIFFEY/Editor

COLUMBIANA— Stacy Walkup, executive director of the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce, has resigned to take another opportunity.

Walkup said she begins work next Friday for a retirement community, though she would not provide the name of the company because of a pending acquisition.

“I just found out today. I have to start for them next Friday because I’m going to be out of town for training for two weeks,” she said.

Walkup began her work with the South Shelby Chamber almost 10 years ago.

“I feel like I have made a nice footprint here and put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into our community and I hope everyone else feels like I have left a nice footprint,” she said. “I’m ready to pass the torch. I have learned something from everybody I have worked with. It’s been a true honor to work at the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce. I’m sad, but am very happy at the same time.”

Richard Cook, who is a Chamber board member and owns Busy Hands in Columbiana with his wife, Linda, was president of the South Shelby Chamber and hired Walkup.

“It’s a shock. If it’s a promotion, I can’t blame her,” Cook said. He said he learned of Walkup’s plans to depart late Friday afternoon.

“I’m sure Donna (Smelcer, South Shelby Chamber president) will be calling a board meeting real soon,” Cook said.

He said the Chamber was in decline when he hired Walkup and “she’s done a great job. With her work and expertise, she brought it back. I hate for her to leave, but I can’t blame her. She’s a young person and she’s bettering her life. I can’t blame her for that.”