Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The president and CEO of The Knoxville Area Urban League is stepping down.

Leaders with group announcing Wednesday that Dr. Charles F. Lomax Jr. is stepping down as president and CEO of the organization “to pursue other opportunities.”

In their statement, leaders expressed their “deepest gratitude” for Lomax’s service; he had been in the role since December of 2022.

KAUL’s board has picked Avice Reid to fill-in as interim president and CEO while a search committee is formed to find a permanent successor.

“I am honored to step into this role and continue the important work of the Knoxville Area Urban League,” Reid said. “I look forward to collaborating with our passionate team, community partners and members to further our mission of economic empowerment and social justice.”

Reid is a Knoxville native who has worked with the Tennessee Valley Authority and City of Knoxville as executive director of the police department’s Police Advisory and Review Committee.