Franklin Co. Hires New Chamber of Commerce Director

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

Franklin County’s Chamber of Commerce has a new Director.

The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has named Tonya Powers as the new Director of Chamber Services.

For the past five years, Powers has worked as the sales and marketing director for Cateechee Golf Club in Hartwell.

She started this past Monday and Powers said she already has some ideas for moving the Chamber forward.

“One program that I would really  like to see is to bring in the Leadership Youth program,” she said. “I think that is a fantastic program and worked well with that in one of the other counties I worked with.  I just think that would be a great program to bring in to involve the youth here.”

Powers said another area she would like to focus on is developing programs for young people.

“The primary role is build more relationships with Franklin County,” Powers said Monday. “And to do more work with the other chambers beside us in Stephens and Hart counties. Specifically in Franklin County, to do more networking here and build the membership here and grow the Chamber as well as help out with more community events.”

Under the Youth Leadership Program, high school students learn to be aware of their community including the needs and problems of the county and state.

The program promotes developing leadership skills in high school students as well as how to work together as a team, and to be better prepared as decision makers and future leaders of their communities.

A native of Franklin County, Powers now lives with her husband in Stephens County and is continuing her education in business.

Powers said she wanted to come back to Franklin County to work.

“I think the biggest thing that influenced me to take this job is the opportunity to be involved with Franklin County because I’m originally from Franklin County,” Powers said. “I wanted to be closer to home and to be back here to work with the community.”

She is currently majoring in business at Piedmont College and earned a degree in marketing from North Georgia Technical College.

Franklin County Chamber Board President Owen Thomason said the search committee was very pleased with the number of applicants for this position.

Thomason said the board is looking forward to working with Powers to promote Franklin County and support local business and industry.

Powers replaces Aida Reynolds, who recently resigned to move closer to her family in Illinois.

In a dual role, Powers will also serve as the Executive Secretary of the Franklin County Industrial Building Authority.