Lehew named as Chamber manager
By Donnie A. Lucas
Albany resident Brandi Lehew has been named as the new manager of the Albany Chamber of Commerce, starting the position this week with regular office hours.
While directors have yet to set the exact time the office will be open, Lehew said that she will be at the Depot on Tuesday through Friday.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity,” Lehew said. “We just love Albany, and everyone has been so welcoming since we moved here.”
Lehew and her husband Clay moved to town five years ago. The couple has two children, Daxton, a second grader, and a daughter Lynnox, age four.
Lehew has been the director of the Mother’s Day Out program at Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church, a post she will continue on Mondays and for a portion of the day each Friday through the spring semester.
“I will help them finish out the semester,” she said. “I plan to be at the church for a couple of hours on Fridays, and then I will be at the Chamber office by 10:00 a.m. each Friday.”
Lehew has a degree in business from West Texas A&M University in Canyon and has served as an office manager in the past. She has worked for a lawyer, at a bank, and for Texas Tech University.
Her husband owns and operates a local trucking company.
“We have tried to become involved in Albany traditions, and we feel like this is home,” she said. “This is the kind of community where we want to raise our family.”
A native of the Olden community near Lubbock, the couple lived in Oklahoma for six years prior to making the move to Albany.
“We were very glad to be able to fill the position with someone who is already so invested in our community,” Chamber president Ramby Anderson said. “Brandi is very organized and willing to work with everyone.”
Anderson said that the Chamber board is happy to have the Chamber office operating on a regular schedule again.
Board member Megaen Birdwell noted that the process of selecting a new manager for the Chamber of Commerce took a little longer than expected both because of the holiday season and the number of excellent applications received for the position.
The post has been vacant since the resignation of Mary Beth Jones in October. She served as the manager for more than four years.
Valentine Project
Lehew said that the downtown merchants decided last week to host a Valentine drawing, with winners receiving $100 gift certificates to participating stores.
Beginning Feb. 1 and continuing until the drawing on Feb. 13, each participating business will have entry forms to hand out to customers. Each participating store will draw for separate $100 gift certificates.
