By Jim Newell

Review Editor

After three-and-a-half years as executive director of the Orion Area Chamber of Commerce, Kim Urbanowski announced on Monday that she is stepping down in January.

And it’s a bittersweet farewell.

“The last three and a half years at the OACC have been an exciting time of growth, not only in building business but in building the community as a whole. I am proud to have played a role in helping make Orion one of the most treasured places to live, work and play in Oakland County,” Urbanowski said.

The chamber will likely post a detailed job description of the position on the chamber website, orionareachamber.com, by the end of the week. Prospective applicants should review the job description and send a cover letter and resume to director@orionareachamber.com, she said.

“I’m going to be staying and helping through the selection process for a new director. I want to keep a positive message about the whole process,” Urbanowski said. “I feel really confident that we’ll be able to find someone who will do a really good job.”

The new executive director should be someone who focuses on not just the business community, but the chamber’s role in the Orion community, Urbanowski said.

“The people who are in our chamber are more community-focused,” Urbanowski said. “We want someone energetic about participating in our community events. It’s not just a job. It’s such a unique position to be in. I’ve met some of the most wonderful people. It’s been very special.”

She added that the chamber members would like to see applicants who are already connected in the community and who can build relationships with not only the business community, but service and charitable organization and work with local government.

She wants to stay through the chamber’s Impact Awards Ceremony and has told the chamber board of directors that her last day will be Jan. 9, 2020.

Urbanowski said she is leaving to devote more time to her daughters, two of whom are at Lake Orion High School, and to taking care of her mother-in-law.

“My girls are in high school and the time is not going to slow down. I just want to be there,” she said.

Urbanowski said she is proud of the what the chamber has accomplished during her tenure as executive director, and she is personally proud of participating in helping with community events.

“I’m most proud of being able to participate in things like the Kaboom playground build (at Camp Agawam),” she said. Urbanowski helped with the grant and planning process, lining up volunteers, and “sitting at the table with the other directors, like the parks director, to prove that we can do this. I’m pretty proud of that, being a part of that. It’s a point of pride, for sure.”

She also points out the Women in Business Conference that the chamber hosted.

“A lot of chamber members participated in that and enjoyed attending. That was pretty incredible, too.”