Tim Chase Resigning from W.F. Chamber of Commerce & Industry
By: Mechell Dixon
Updated: January 24, 2013
Tim Chase is leaving Wichita Falls for a job in another city-- Wichita, Kansas.
And he says the decision to leave the blue skies of Wichita Falls for a golden opportunity in Kansas was difficult but one he simply couldn't decline.
"I came to Wichita Falls on January 1, 1998."
Since then, Tim Chase has been all about business.
He started as Vice President of Economic Development for the Wichita Falls BCI.
Three years later he became president/ceo.
Now, Chase is announcing that he is resigning and relocating to another state.
"Wichita, KS has has a total over 700,000 population in the metro area. So it's quite a bit larger market and I felt like a new challenge would be in order," Chase says.
He'll be doing the same thing but as president of the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition in Kansas.
According to Chase, the decision to leave was not easy but he says it was time.
"One of the aspects of being the only person in town to hold this job is you have to leave town to get a promotion and this is clearly a business decision or a career decision," Chase explains.
He'll be leaving behind more than a decade that brought new businesses to Wichita Falls, including AT&T and WDS... and saw many others close or leave.
And as he looks out over the city from his office, he reflected on what he considers his greatest accomplishment.
"To grow the economy using the resources that we have, making sure the citizens are able to take advantage of the career opportunities that we have here," Chase says.
While there were lots of successes Chase consider his biggest loss that of Natura Mattress Company.
It received millions in incentives to come to Wichita Falls in 2010 but is now out of business... and the city is trying to recoup its money.
Chase's last day on the job is February 15th.
He will start his new job in Wichita, Kansas, on February 21st.
