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HALLETTSVILLE – Wayne Stewart feels like he is a perfect fit for his new position as executive director of the Hallettsville Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture.

“I’m a people person,” he said. “I love to talk and I love to visit with people.”

Stewart, 63, took over his new duties at the end of June. A former teacher and school administrator, Stewart said his skills in the education field have prepared him for the position.

“The skills I’ve gained – organizational, planning, hiring – have all prepared me for this job,” he said. “I encourage every business in Hallettsville to become a member of the chamber family and have a say in the exciting changes being made in Hallettsville.”

Ranging reporter Sonny Long visited with Stewart in the chamber office.

Q:Tell me about your background, where you grew up, went to school, earlier jobs, those kinds of things.

A:I was born and raised in Nixon in Gonzales County. I went to college at Southwest Texas, now Texas State, and got a degree in business administration. I married shortly after I started college and after I graduated we came back to her home in Smiley, eight miles from Nixon. I took a teaching job in Smiley, teaching sixth grade. I worked for 23 years in Smiley and in the Nixon-Smiley school district. I eventually became a principal. I quit for one year due to my wife’s illness then returned to administration in the Yoakum school district. After working as an assistant principal at the junior high, I was an elementary school principal the last eight years. I started getting hugs instead of shrugs. I loved it.

I retired early and we moved to Conroe. My wife Wanda passed away three years ago this month. I later taught high school and was the principal at Providence Christian Academy in Yoakum. In all, I worked about 37 years in education.

Q:What attracted you to the position in Hallettsville?

A:I feel like all what I have done in the past has truly prepared me to be the director here at the chamber of commerce. I hope I can live up to the expectations.

Q:Talk about how the chamber works, not only within the membership but also in conjunction and cooperation with the city and local economic development groups.

A:The chamber is continually searching for opportunities to bring new business to town, and to work with them through the Small Business Development Center. We provide community and area tourist information, maintain a community calendar promoting all events, and take pride in all the cultures represented here.

We have unwritten agreements and work together with the city, the school districts, the Hallettsville Industrial Corporation and the economic development corporation. We also partnership through contact with such groups as the Lavaca Exposition Association to go even further in encouraging its growth and success by providing services and advertisement. I, and at times chamber officers, meet with other area, regional and state entities to bring the best information out there back to Hallettsville. We also attempt to stay abreast of all community and legal issues that could affect our community and business climate. We share this information through meetings and community forums.