Leander chamber president resigning

Chamber accepting applications, plans to finalize job description at meeting Tuesday.

LEANDER — Leander Chamber of Commerce President Mary Bradshaw announced this week that she is resigning effective Dec. 31.

Bradshaw, who has held the position since January 2005, said she felt the time is right to pursue other options.

“I have been here in Leander for eight years. I was in Cedar Park for six, and 14 years is a long time to stick to one thing,” she said.

Bradshaw led the chamber during a growth spurt that is one of the strongest in the city’s history and that continues today.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Leander is one of the fastest growing cities over the last decade, and from 2010 to 2011 the city’s population jumped 5 percent from 25,444 to an estimated 26,708.

Before becoming Leander chamber president, Bradshaw served as manager of the Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce’s leadership program and as a manager of tourism. She said her previous work in nonprofits made for a natural transition to joining the chamber.

Stephanie Samuels, chairwoman of the Leander chamber’s board of directors, said that the chamber is accepting applications and that it will be finalizing a job description posting at its next meeting Tuesday.

Samuels said Bradshaw played a role in the chamber’s strong relationship with the city.

“They both just worked really well together. I think that’s why both have been very successful, and Mary has been a part of that as well,” Samuels said.

As for advice for her replacement, Bradshaw said it is important to enjoy the community.

“Because we’ve always said we take our business seriously but not ourselves,” Bradshaw said.