JACKSON -- When the Jackson Chamber of Commerce went looking for its first-ever executive director, communication and leadership skills were the primary requirements. In Ken Parrett, the chamber found someone whose leadership abilities were tested in Operation Desert Storm.

Parrett, who began work for the chamber last week, was a platoon sergeant in the U.S. Army 82nd Engineer Battalion in Desert Storm. The 50-man platoon's job was to cut through a berm, allowing the Second Armored Cavalry to advance from Saudi Arabia into Iraq.

Though he also has a master's degree in public administration from Webster University in St. Louis, Parrett says military training translates well to the private sector, too.

"You don't advance in the military unless you have leadership skills."

Being part of a team is another essential ability in the military, he adds. "You can't do anything in the military or business without a team effort."

Right now, Parrett is an executive director without an office as he awaits the completion of an extensive renovation of the chamber offices at 125 E. Main St. The chamber undertook a fund-raising campaign during the summer to pay for the work, which should be finished in about two weeks.

Then, he and chamber secretary Marilyn Foster will move down the hall into the spacious new offices. The cramped former chamber office will become storage space.

Parrett's primary challenges at this point are getting out to meet people and organizing the office along the lines he wants to work, doing an inventory and deciding on a direction.

Parrett has been hired to guide the chamber during a period when the city is undergoing tremendous growth but membership in the chamber has been stagnant. "We just haven't had a full-time person to go out there and talk to people," he says.

The 20-25 conversations he has had with non-members so far have yielded verbal commitments from about half to join the chamber.

One thing about Jackson has struck him immediately.

"The business people here are not jealous of anybody else's success," he says. "They look forward to other people coming in."

Parrett most recently was employed by Advanced Business Systems in Cape Girardeau. He and his wife, Judy, have a Cape Girardeau County address but live in the Jackson school district. He has three grown children from a previous marriage and has one grandchild.

A former high school basketball, baseball and football player, he now enjoys playing softball and golf.

He also writes a column for the Southeast Missourian's TBY publication and teaches an economics class at Metro Business College.

Parrett's salary is being paid by the City of Jackson. In two years, he hopes for the chamber office to be a self-sufficient liaison between Jackson business community and new people wanting to locate to the city.

"When people want something I want them to know they can get it," he says.

He also wants people to know the chamber is trustworthy. "Whether the number of employees is one of 1,000, you're just as important."