Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

At the beginning of April, Connie Hensler and Kathy Tilley took over their new positions with the chamber and city.

Tilley took the helm as the Visit LaGrange CEO and president, and Hensler settled into her role as the new president of the LaGrange-Troup Chamber of Commerce. In January, Tilley accepted the position but continued as interim president of the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce until a new president was hired.

Visit LaGrange was established to be the destination marketing organization for the city of LaGrange and is funded by the hotel-motel tax.

Hensler was named the new chamber CEO and president amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

As president, Hensler will guide the chamber in finding new strategies for its members, developing plans and programs to help the chamber move forward, being a point of contact for chamber members and more.

Before stepping into her chamber position, Hensler served as the executive director of the American Red Cross in LaGrange.

We are excited for these two women to take charge of such vital roles in the community.

Now, more than ever, the community needs stability and people who can lead. As they adjust to their new roles and get acquainted with the job, we expect both to flourish.

Most importantly, we hope that their roles help grow the community and businesses within Troup County. Even though tourism is currently down due to COVID-19, Tilley said she has been working on a new visitor’s guide to give to travelers when they come to LaGrange. She has been calling local tourism partners and getting acquainted with them. Hensler has also dived right in and focused on how she can help and support chamber members during the midst of closures and changes in the governor’s orders.

It is exciting to see that even in a pandemic, the two adjusted quickly and got the ball rolling in their positions.