GAIL FARISH . . . chamber president. Fairfield chamber of commerce directors elected Gail Farish as president and Mary Small as first vice president to lead the organization in 2009.

Election of officers was held at the chamber board meeting last week.

Also elected were second vice president Vanessa Dotson and treasurer Jason Hullum.

In her third year of service on the chamber's board of directors, Mrs. Farish was elected president of the organization.

The Gilmer native moved to Fairfield in 1991 with her husband Jackie. Together the couple has four children and seven grandchildren.

Mrs. Farish worked for several years at the Bank of Fairfield before buying Creations in 2002.

Creations, a floral design business, provides a selection of gift items as well as home decorating services in addition to fresh and silk floral arrangements.

Mrs. Farish and her husband live in Kirvin and attend the First Baptist Church of Blooming Grove.

As president, Mrs. Farish has goals she would like to see the chamber of commerce accomplish.

MARY SMALL . . . first vice president. "We are always looking for new ideas to benefit our businesses and find a way to put them on the map," she says.

"Of course, we will continue the work on the chamber building," she says, referring to the remodel initiated by former chamber president Ray Green.

The board of directors will meet in January to begin planning for the year. It will be their first meeting since elections.

"I have some ideas that I want to discuss with the board but our top priority, as always, is to give back to the community," says Mrs. Farish.

Fairfield business owner Mary Small is a native of Palestine who graduated from Westwood high school in 1979 before moving to Fairfield with her husband John Gordon Small.

Mrs. Small graduated from Stephen F. Austin University in 1981 with a bachelors degree in business administration.

She later earned her masters degree in education in 1984.

For 25 years Mrs. Small taught sixth grade science to Fairfield students and her husband directed the Eagle marching band for 31 years.

In 2001, she bought Accessories Etc. which carries a variety of gifts for registries including bridal, baby and graduation as well as a selection of housewares and seasonal items.

"We want to help local businesses," says Mrs. Small.

"The chamber of commerce is here to promote business and provide opportunities for the community."

Mrs. Small has been a member of the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce for seven years and served on the board of directors as first vice president elected in 2008.

New directors recently elected to the chamber board are Vanessa Dotson of All Things Write, Charlene Ward of First Baptist Church, David Fowler of Heritage Title and Company, Gary Trammel of Luminant, and Clark Fryer of Rollo Insurance.

The Fairfield chamber of commerce's first event of the year will be its annual banquet set for Monday, Jan. 26.