CHATSWORTH, Ga. — After 23 years with Murray County Schools in various positions, Phenna Petty will be the new president of the Chatsworth-Eton-Murray County Chamber of Commerce.

Dinah Rowe retired as chamber president on March 30 after 17 years. Petty is expected to start at the chamber in early October.

Petty, 58, worked in the media center and front office at Murray County High School. In 2002 she became director of Career, Technical and Agricultural Education for the school system.

Chamber board chairman Maria Bradley declined to say what the board vote was to select Petty and who the other applicants were.

“I don’t want to embarrass them because they didn’t get the job,” she said.

Bradley said there were 19 applicants. Five interviewed in late July. Four were local and one was from out of town.

Fourteen out of 15 board members voted.

“It was not a unanimous vote for her (Petty), but she did have the majority,” Bradley said.

The position pays “right around” $45,000 annually with benefits, insurance, a retirement plan and other incentives Petty may qualify for if she increases membership, Bradley said. The contract is year-to-year.

A native of Murray County, Petty said family, the county and the community are all important to her.

“I hope everything I do benefits my community,” she said. “My children are grown so I’ve kind of adopted the county as a whole.”

Petty and her husband Jerry have been married 36 years. They have two children, Heath Petty and Ashlee Wega, and one granddaughter.

“My community is important to me, I love where I live,” Petty said. “I hope moving forward as the port opens we can attract some new businesses.”

The Appalachian Regional Port opened in the northern end of the county on Wednesday. Commercial trucks will drop off and pick up loads at the port, which will be connected to the Port of Savannah by CSX railroad.

The port is on what was formerly 42 acres of cattle pasture just off U.S. 411 near the Petty-Fairy Valley Park near Crandall. Petty said the land for the park was donated by her husband’s family.

“We are graduating students who are willing and able (to work) right out of high school,” Petty said. “They are leaving high school with certifications and can get a good-paying job, but they often have to leave Murray County.”

Petty said she wants the students, whether they go straight into the workforce, attend a technical school or four-year college or obtain a graduate degree, to have the opportunity to work in Murray County.

“It will be exciting to have new industries in Murray County and get students to stay, or entice them to come back after college for a wonderful-paying job,” she said.

“I want to have a positive impact on Murray County and surrounding communities,” she said. “We are all intertwined in northwest Georgia, none of us are standalone counties. We all work together and always have, no matter if there is a county line that divides.”

Petty said she hopes to continue those relationships.

Bradley said it’s “evident Phenna loves her community.”

“She is energetic and has great relationships with our local and state leaders and representatives,” Bradley said.

She said Petty’s involvement in the community and local boards is also a plus.

Petty is the chairman of the Murray County Division of Family and Children Services. She is also an executive board member for Murray County Family Connection, a local division of a statewide organization that looks to improve opportunities and resources for children and families.

“I think her connections and love for the community are great assets,” Bradley said. “She’s going to do a great job and be a leader for our community.”

Chamber board member Reba Daniel said she’d like to see “continued cooperation between government and businesses” under Petty’s leadership.

Board member Rusty Ridley said he thinks one reason Petty was selected is because “she is very knowledgeable of the Murray County community.”

“She has long ties here, and I think she can represent the community in a very positive way,” he said.