After more than five years as executive director of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, Terri Crain has made the decision to step down, chamber officials announced Thursday.

Crain has chosen to resign so she and her family can relocate to Texas, said John Musella, a member of the chamber’s board of directors.

“She and her family have a great opportunity in Houston,” he said. “We’re truly going to miss her.”

Musella added that Crain’s resignation comes after a five-plus year stretch managing the Santa Clarita business community.

“Terri has been instrumental in growing the chamber’s presence in the Santa Clarita Valley, and has been an asset to the local business community,” said Curtis Woods, chairman of the chamber’s board of directors. “On behalf of the entire chamber family, we would like to thank Terri for her contributions, and wish her and her family the best of luck as they start the next chapter of their lives in Houston.”

Woods praised Crain for navigating the economic landscape of the past half-decade, and for helping to grow the Santa Clarita business community.

“Terri really helped the chamber navigate through the challenges of the economic downturn,” he said, “and she was key in growing our member outreach and events departments.”

Without her, said Musella, Santa Clarita would not be what it is now.

“She kept membership steady (during an economic slump), and over the next few years increased membership,” he said.

The board intends to hire an interim executive director to fill Crain’s position while they conduct a nationwide search for an individual with the qualifications needed to continue Santa Clarita’s growth.

“We’re the third largest city in L.A. County,” said Musella. “We don’t want to jump into a quick hire.”