Tuesday night, Valerie Oberle announced her intentions to step down from her post of chairperson of the Tourism Partnership of Surry County.

The partnership, and the county as a whole, will be poorer for her decision to give up the lead role in the agency.

Like many commissions and similar organizations throughout the county, the partnership is a volunteer board, advised by some paid folks working for the chamber of commerce or various local governments. And many of these bodies in Mount Airy and Surry County are blessed to have dedicated, hard-working volunteers who go well above the expectations of the particular post.

But, we feel confident in saying one would have to look long and hard to find someone who has accomplished as much as Oberle has during her time as chair of the partnership.

That body was fortunate to have Oberle’s leadership, because she has a professional background in marketing. And at times, it appeared she was working full-time for the Partnership, meeting with various groups in and out of the county, soliciting bids from marketing firms that could raise the level of Surry County’s national profile, and offering advice and guidance to other local tourism officials.

She has been a major factor behind the momentum the partnership has generated over the past couple of years, and we suspect her effect on tourism in Surry County will be felt for some time to come.

While she leaves some huge shoes to fill, the partnership will benefit from the fact that she is not leaving, merely handing over the reins of the organization to someone else.