Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce President Rex Richards will retire after 20 years of leadership.

Vanessa Lynch will succeed him on Jan. 1. She is the chamber's executive vice president of economic development and operations. She started at the chamber in 2022.

“For 20 years, our beloved leader, Rex Richards, has been a champion for Valpo businesses and a familiar face so many of us have come to know and appreciate,” according to a Facebook post. “After an extraordinary 54 years leading chambers of commerce, Rex is retiring from the chamber profession and beginning a new chapter in the private sector. We are grateful for his leadership, his heart, and the dedication he has shown our community.”

Before joining the Valparaiso chamber, Richards led chambers in Jasper, Logansport, Michigan City and East Chicago, among others. In Kansas City, Kansas, and Sarasota, Florida, he led teams of more than 40 people and 3,000 members.

“His experience, dedication and ability to connect with people have made him a valued advocate for businesses throughout his career,” according to a press release.

Richards grew up in Anderson and graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington. He also graduated from the six-year Chamber of Commerce Institute program at the University of Notre Dame.

The chamber invites the community to celebrate the milestone from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 19 at Journeyman Distillery in Valparaiso.