Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce Director Deb Brown has announced that she will be stepping down from her position on March 24.

Brown, who came to Webster City in March 2013, said she’s ready to continue with the next chapter of her life. She announced on her blog, “Need a Little Advice,” that she was leaving her chamber position to continue to pursue her passion.

“I have been traveling around the country speaking about small towns and things small towns can do to have a brighter future for about a year and a half. I have been doing this after work and on weekends or on vacation time,” she said.

Brown and business partner Becky McCray of Oklahoma co-founded SaveYour.Town. The two produce webinars each month and speak at conferences and in small towns. Brown said she is at a point in her business where she had to make a decision about whether work full time in her own business or continue on with the chamber.

“I can’t do everything. So, I’ll be 62 in June. If not now, when? I have the opportunity to continue living in Webster City and share the stories of some of the things that have happened here. I can bring some more outside attention to this community — because it’s fabulous here — while doing the traveling I like to do and learn more about small towns.”

Brown said the most rewarding part of her time with the chamber has been the people she’s met.

“The opportunity to spend time with small business owners has been awesome,” she said. She added that there are many memorable events that have taken place while she was with the Chamber, including RVTV’s three trips to Webster City, JunqueFest, the Tour of Empty Buildings and the reopening of the Webster Theater.

“There are some real positives in this community that I’m happy to say I’ve been a part of,” she said.

Downtown Revitalization will bring big changes to the community in the near future, according to Brown.

“This community over the next two years will grow and grow quickly,” she said. She pointed to the expansion of large businesses in the area — VeroBlue Farms, Van Diest Supply Company, Vantec and Prestage Farms.

“They are all growing and hiring new staff,” she said. “It’s a brilliant time to start building housing and expanding our community and looking forward instead of back all the time.”