Jan. 1, 2013, will mark the first day the Leander Chamber of Commerce operates without its leader of the past eight years.

Mary Bradshaw submitted her resignation earlier this month; her tenure as president and CEO ends Dec. 31. That resignation prompted the chamber board to launch a search for her replacement, which should be hired by April, incoming board Chairwoman Tanya Clawson said Dec. 20 during the Leander City Council meeting.

A committee will be formed to find the next president and CEO, Clawson said, and the opening will be promoted on the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives website.

In the interim, executive assistant Debra Harrison will maintain a presence at the chamber office until she retires in May, as will board members when necessary, Clawson said.

"Our expectation is a 40-hour work week with the exception of Debra's break [in mid-January]," she said to council.

Annual events such as next year's golf tournament fundraiser will go on as scheduled, she said. The board also invited Leander City Manager Kent Cagle and Mayor Chris Fielder to their next meeting to help better collaborate with city hall, Clawson said.

Aside from setting a hiring goal of April, the board shared several other 2013 expectations, including efforts to retain at least 85 percent of existing members and to expand to 300 total members.