After three months on the job Greater Lawrence Chamber of Commerce director Jerry Rowe has resigned to go back into the private sector.

“I have always had some other investments,” Rowe said. “It is a two-day a week job and that position needs to be four or five days a week. It is tough doing it part-time.”

Rowe, who came to the post following his retirement as plant manager at Liebert, plans to acquire a ServPro franchise in eastern Kentucky. ServPro is a Tennessee-based company that offers fire and water restoration and other cleaning services.

“If it wasn’t for me and this business, I would stay right there,” Rowe said. “They have a great group of people, a great team. They pitch in and help.”

When and if Rowe will be replaced is undecided, according to Dr. Bill Dingus, executive director of the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation and the Chamber.

“We have not really resolved how to work with that,” Dingus said. “That is one the next items on our agenda.”

The chamber will also review whether the position, if filled, remains part-time.

“It will be a terrible loss for us,” Dingus said. “Jerry is a great person. He related so very well with the small businesses. He was a tremendous asset. However, he is a business person at heart and will do extremely well.”