Longtime regional tourism specialist Sarah Pischer gave notice of her resignation Tuesday and will be named the new executive director of the Manitowish Waters Chamber of Commerce.

Pischer, who spent more than seven years at the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, was the regional tourism specialist for 18 northern Wisconsin counties including Oneida County.

“I weighed the pros and the cons and this is what is best for my career right now,” Pischer said. “It was not an easy decision [to leave the Wisconsin Department of Tourism] but this is something I wanted to do.”

Pischer’s move to the Chamber of Commerce is a return to her roots as she spent four and a half years working for the Minocqua Chamber of Commerce before taking the position with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.

“I think this is a great opportunity,” she said. “I worked for the Minocqua Chamber of Commerce, but I was not the director. Now as the director, I can really steer the Manitowish Waters Chamber in the directions that I think it should go.”

That does not mean that Pischer is not looking for outside input on the way the Manitowish Waters Chamber should be run.

“With the state position, I had the opportunity to meet with different groups and find out different ways of doing things,” she said. “It was always a team effort. I look forward to meeting with the Manitowish Waters members because that is what this is about, is working with members. I also like to hear lots of different ideas and bring them together.”

Pischer said the executive position is a job she has always wanted and it allows her to be closer to her home and her family.

“Before with my job, I was traveling around to the 18 northern Wisconsin counties so I was traveling a lot,” Pischer said. “This will allow me to be home more.”

It will also allow Pischer to make decisions on a more local level rather than the broad state level.

“It will be fun to get into the day-to-day operations,” Pischer said. “With my last job, every day brought something new. I know with the Manitowish Executive Director position, it will be the same. Something new every day, but I am excited for the challenge.”

Pischer will begin work April 15 and said the she is happy to work in such a wonderful area.

“The Manitowish Waters area has so much to offer,” she said. “I am looking forward to promoting it and helping it grow.”