The Austin Chronicle‘s advertising director — and AAN Retail Advertising Committee chair — says she’s leaving the paper in the first week of July. Flagg plans to move back home to Phoenix to start a new company that provides consulting services.

She will step down from her position on the AAN Board of Directors following the board’s meeting in June in Philadelphia.

“It’s been so wonderful working in this industry these 20 years and getting to know people at papers throughout North America,” Flagg says. “I’ll always be grateful to those boys at the Chronicle for not only hiring me but for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the AAN experience.”

Flagg was first elected to the board in 2003, and was re-elected to a third term last year in Portland. Her departure means someone will be elected at this year’s convention in Philadelphia to serve the one year remaining in her term as retail ad chair.

“Carol is enormously talented and productive. Plus she is really smart and has a real knack for getting things done,” says AAN executive director Richard Karpel. “Her resignation will be a big loss for the association and the industry. I know that I speak for everyone on the board in saying that we wish her the best.”