Kyle chamber executive director accepts new position

"This is still kind of late-breaking, so we're still in the planning phase, but right now we're speaking to some executive search firms and trying to get information from them," Baese said.

The firms have indicated a search will likely take 3–4 months, he added.

"Obviously Ray has done a tremendous amount for the chamber," Baese said. "We are sad to see him go, but we certainly recognize that this is an important step for his career, and so we wish him the best."

Looking back on his time with the chamber, Hernandez said he fondly remembers driving on FM 1626, heading east toward what is now Seton Medical Center Hays.

"The only thing you could see at the intersection of 1626 and I-35 was an H-E-B Plus under construction," he said.

Seton Medical Center Hays, the neighboring medical office buildings and Target were still years away.

"All that was just pasture," he said. "There was nothing there except for one house on the east side."

Membership in the organization has grown from 150 members to almost 400 since Hernandez joined the chamber.

In addition to their role in the business community, Hernandez and the chamber have been active in discussions affecting the entire city. The chamber voiced support of the 2008 county road bond election, the annexation of Hays CISD into the ACC taxing district and the road bond election on which voters will decide in May.

"Kyle is a very special place in my heart, and I know that if I let go of her hand and let her walk without me, she'll be taken care of by some incredible people," Hernandez said.