| Without a solid plan for the next chapter of her life, the always adventure seeking executive director of the Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce is ready to start writing that chapter in 2026 anyway. Jodi Baker Lewis let the chamber board know her decision to resign shortly after “the Best Three Days” - the phrase she uses to describe Applefest. |  |
Lewis has been the chamber’s leader since the middle of 2015 and was assistant director for seven years prior.
Not without some trepidation she feels it is just time for a change.
“This is a dream job,” she said. “Nothing can match this. The relationships I’ve built. I’ll miss it big time.”
But Lewis is always one to challenge herself to try new things and with a "big" birthday coming up she isn't going sit back on her laurels, she is going to make things happen.. Each year she takes her birthday month to try something new every day.
“I read that your 60s are your most influential years and next is your 70s and the third is in your fifties, and I’m already past that one,” she said.
She did say, however, whatever she will do, it will be will be near by.
“My kids are here. I did tell them to get their couches ready, I might need to couch surf for a while.”
Not without some trepidation she feels it is just time for a change.
“This is a dream job,” she said. “Nothing can match this. The relationships I’ve built. I’ll miss it big time.”
But Lewis is always one to challenge herself to try new things and with a "big" birthday coming up she isn't going sit back on her laurels, she is going to make things happen.. Each year she takes her birthday month to try something new every day.
“I read that your 60s are your most influential years and next is your 70s and the third is in your fifties, and I’m already past that one,” she said.
She did say, however, whatever she will do, it will be will be near by.
“My kids are here. I did tell them to get their couches ready, I might need to couch surf for a while.”
In her time at the chamber, Lewis said building better relationships and bringing the chamber office into a downtown storefront where it has served as a mini incubator and a gathering place for important discussions was among her greatest achievements.
“We’re in this space (1255 Liberty Street), in this building which is great. Even though we were just up the street, I remember people being so excited that we were going to be 'in town',” she laughed. “We were only a block up the street, but what a difference this has made. Since we’ve been here we’ve become the information center. I mean, It has become an information highway for everyone.”
The chamber has an open door policy that encourages local leaders, members of the public and visitors to stop by.
“People (who) walk in the door and you don’t know where they’re from and by the time they leave, they probably have my business card and my cell phone number and I’ll probably hear from them again,” she said. “I will miss those opportunities (this job) presented.”
And it’s not just the out of town visitors, Lewis said building community relationships brings in people with ideas that want them to grow.
“I’ve been a part of so many people’s dreams, seeing their businesses open,” she said. “It’s the people you happen to run into and have that small unexpected conversation with that then turns into something great.”
As example, she mentioned the Innovation Institute for Tomorrow that occupies the upper floors of the chamber building. It was a chance encounter with the Institute’s founder Tim Heffernen that led to a series of growth-oriented projects and locations for the Institute, and a close friendship.
Lewis credits friendships for much of Franklin’s success over the years – friends with the common goal of keeping Franklin a destination, not just for travelers, but also the people who live and work there.And the chamber isn’t just about helping the business owners to turn a profit but also contributing to the things that make Franklin a place where people want to live, work and support each other.“We can sit at a table, we can argue with each other, but when we open (the chamber) door, we’re going out to do what is best for the community as a whole,” she said about meetings with community leaders and business owners.
“We’re in this space (1255 Liberty Street), in this building which is great. Even though we were just up the street, I remember people being so excited that we were going to be 'in town',” she laughed. “We were only a block up the street, but what a difference this has made. Since we’ve been here we’ve become the information center. I mean, It has become an information highway for everyone.”
The chamber has an open door policy that encourages local leaders, members of the public and visitors to stop by.
“People (who) walk in the door and you don’t know where they’re from and by the time they leave, they probably have my business card and my cell phone number and I’ll probably hear from them again,” she said. “I will miss those opportunities (this job) presented.”
And it’s not just the out of town visitors, Lewis said building community relationships brings in people with ideas that want them to grow.
“I’ve been a part of so many people’s dreams, seeing their businesses open,” she said. “It’s the people you happen to run into and have that small unexpected conversation with that then turns into something great.”
As example, she mentioned the Innovation Institute for Tomorrow that occupies the upper floors of the chamber building. It was a chance encounter with the Institute’s founder Tim Heffernen that led to a series of growth-oriented projects and locations for the Institute, and a close friendship.
Lewis credits friendships for much of Franklin’s success over the years – friends with the common goal of keeping Franklin a destination, not just for travelers, but also the people who live and work there.And the chamber isn’t just about helping the business owners to turn a profit but also contributing to the things that make Franklin a place where people want to live, work and support each other.“We can sit at a table, we can argue with each other, but when we open (the chamber) door, we’re going out to do what is best for the community as a whole,” she said about meetings with community leaders and business owners.
“Her dedication to Franklin is second to none,” said Franklin Area Chamber board president Josh Jolley. “The hours she puts in, she is always there. She does a lot that people just don’t realize.”
Jolley said Lewis’ resignation was a bit of a surprise. Therefore, the board wants to take the time to figure out their next move. “We didn’t accept her resignation (at the last board meeting),” he said, emphasizing that they wanted to be sure everything is done correctly. “She’s been here for 11 years, we haven’t had to do this in a long while.”
The board will meet on November 20 and will set in motion the search for a new director.
“She has big shoes to fill,” Jolley said. “The way she carries herself; the way she always helps people. Even if she doesn’t have the answer, she knows the direction to point them. That is really hard to find.”
The work she puts into Applefest alone will be hard to imagine anyone equaling. “I’ve always been impressed,” he said.
Lewis said that Applefest has grown during her tenure – filling both parks and spilling out into the streets. Though it probably doesn’t have much more room for expansion Lewis said that doesn’t mean it has to become stagnant.
Jolley said Lewis’ resignation was a bit of a surprise. Therefore, the board wants to take the time to figure out their next move. “We didn’t accept her resignation (at the last board meeting),” he said, emphasizing that they wanted to be sure everything is done correctly. “She’s been here for 11 years, we haven’t had to do this in a long while.”
The board will meet on November 20 and will set in motion the search for a new director.
“She has big shoes to fill,” Jolley said. “The way she carries herself; the way she always helps people. Even if she doesn’t have the answer, she knows the direction to point them. That is really hard to find.”
The work she puts into Applefest alone will be hard to imagine anyone equaling. “I’ve always been impressed,” he said.
Lewis said that Applefest has grown during her tenure – filling both parks and spilling out into the streets. Though it probably doesn’t have much more room for expansion Lewis said that doesn’t mean it has to become stagnant.
Every year Lewis and the committee think about what they can do to spice it up and keep it fun and new.
They have brought in touring acts, like extreme pogo stick jumpers who wowed crowds, and tried out a variety of things, like featuring local authors along 12th Street.
Lewis and Jolley will be working closely together to see that the transition goes smoothly and she isn’t going anywhere.
“This is home. This is the community that gave me a chance and that I grew up in. (This job) was an opportunity to give back,” she said. Though she wants a little time to breathe and think about that next chapter, people who know her also understand no moss will be growing anywhere near her.
“I just want to do what you’re supposed to do. I just love the ability to help people. Maybe I could just fill in for anybody in need of help. Someone breaks their leg – I can help. Someone needs seasonal help – I can do that…” she said.
But first, she is perhaps going to sleep on her kids' couches when she feels like it and figure out that next chapter.
“I’m used to taking care of everybody else and not myself, and with a big decade looming in the next year, it’s just time.”
They have brought in touring acts, like extreme pogo stick jumpers who wowed crowds, and tried out a variety of things, like featuring local authors along 12th Street.
Lewis and Jolley will be working closely together to see that the transition goes smoothly and she isn’t going anywhere.
“This is home. This is the community that gave me a chance and that I grew up in. (This job) was an opportunity to give back,” she said. Though she wants a little time to breathe and think about that next chapter, people who know her also understand no moss will be growing anywhere near her.
“I just want to do what you’re supposed to do. I just love the ability to help people. Maybe I could just fill in for anybody in need of help. Someone breaks their leg – I can help. Someone needs seasonal help – I can do that…” she said.
But first, she is perhaps going to sleep on her kids' couches when she feels like it and figure out that next chapter.
“I’m used to taking care of everybody else and not myself, and with a big decade looming in the next year, it’s just time.”
On a personal note:
When I first took over for Jerry Sowden at The Derrick and The News-Herald in 2015, on of my first assignment was to make a portrait of Jodi because she was taking over as the chamber director. I was not happy with my effort and I missed the picture. I had missed the picture that would define her for me the next ten years.
Horns beeped and her face lit up as she waved back and then told me a short story about the person.
She knew everybody and if she didn't know them, she wanted to to.
On Thursday as I was taking her photo there we were, horns beeps and just as she did 10 years ago, her face lit up as she waved back.
Jodi is one of those personalities that define a place and as Josh Jolley said above she will be a tough act to follow.
I'm not worried about missing her, she will be around and likely will still be my first text when trying to figure something Franklin related out, but just as Ronnie Beith's leadership is missed, perhaps even more so will Jodi's.
When I first took over for Jerry Sowden at The Derrick and The News-Herald in 2015, on of my first assignment was to make a portrait of Jodi because she was taking over as the chamber director. I was not happy with my effort and I missed the picture. I had missed the picture that would define her for me the next ten years.
Horns beeped and her face lit up as she waved back and then told me a short story about the person.
She knew everybody and if she didn't know them, she wanted to to.
On Thursday as I was taking her photo there we were, horns beeps and just as she did 10 years ago, her face lit up as she waved back.
Jodi is one of those personalities that define a place and as Josh Jolley said above she will be a tough act to follow.
I'm not worried about missing her, she will be around and likely will still be my first text when trying to figure something Franklin related out, but just as Ronnie Beith's leadership is missed, perhaps even more so will Jodi's.
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