MARSHALL — It all started out as a temporary position, Cal Brink said.

“It was supposed to be three or four months, and it turned into almost a decade,” Brink said, looking back on his time as executive director of the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Authority.

That decade had a lot of positive experiences, and growth in the Marshall community, Brink said. But now he will be moving on to something new. Brink announced this week that he will be taking on a new role as interim CEO of Jonti-Craft.

Based in Wabasso, Jonti-Craft is a family-owned company that makes a wide range of children’s furniture.

“It’s a good opportunity,” Brink said of the Jonti-Craft position. He had been doing some consulting work with Jonti-Craft going back about three years. Now, Jonti-Craft is going through a period of family succession planning, Brink said, and his position with the company will be temporary during that process.

Brink became director of the Marshall Area Chamber in 2009, after a 30-year career with the Schwan’s Company. The Chamber position was originally meant to be an interim one, but over the years Brink has worked with area businesses and local governments to help encourage economic development in Lyon County.

Brink said he was committed to staying as long as he was needed, and leaving the Chamber and the EDA with good leadership after he was gone. After working with Chamber Director Brad Gruhot and EDA Director Tara Onken, Brink said he feels he’s leaving the organizations in good hands. Both Gruhot and Onken have developed great leadership skills, he said.

“(Brad) has really been running the Chamber himself for the past year or so,” Brink said. Onken is also committed to promoting local development and growth. “She has a real passion for Marshall and the surrounding area.”

Brink said his time with the Chamber and the EDA taught him a lot about working with a city, and with county government. There have been both challenges and positive experiences along the way.

“For me, it’s been a really enjoyable 10 years,” Brink said. During that time, the Chamber and EDA have worked to help make a lot of development projects a reality in and around Marshall. Brink said some of the highlights have included the construction of passing lanes and safety improvements on the Highway 23 corridor; the expansion of businesses like Ralco, Runnings, Action Manufacturing, and Beverage Wholesalers; and getting new business in the vacant former Kmart property in Marshall.

The construction of the Red Baron Arena and Expo was another major project, Brink said. Now, the facility is a “magnet” for events in Marshall, he said.

However, Brink said the people he’s met and worked with as Chamber and EDA director have been crucial to all that growth — “It’s so dependent on the community,” he said. Brink said he appreciated all the community members he’s worked with, as well as the city and county officials who have also shown support for local development over the years.

“To have a supportive mayor, and council, and supportive county commissioners, is so valuable,” Brink said.

Brink, a rural Lynd resident, said he won’t be moving away for the new position with Jonti-Craft. However, he said the job change will bring him and his wife Deb closer to spending more time with grandchildren and family.