The Hart County Chamber of Commerce didn’t have to search far for its next executive director, promoting executive assistant Lindsey Ingle to the chamber’s lead role.
Ingle applied to the position after Terri Partain announced her resignation in early April. For Ingle, who has always “worked in the background” and been someone’s “right hand” wherever she worked, the opportunity is a big one.
“I’ve always helped many people with their businesses and just been their assistant and now I kinda feel like I’m coming into this position and I’m going to be every business owner’s assistant through the Chamber and help them reach all the goals,” Ingle said.
Ingle’s first day was Monday, May 2, a week after she was selected by the chamber’s executive board.
“We posted on a number of social and job sites regarding this particular opening with a basic job description. We received a total of, I think, seven applications,” Chamber board chairman Jerry McHan said.”I narrowed that down to three that I would interview. We interviewed the top three with the executive committee which is composed of myself, the chairman elect and the treasurer.”
McHan said after interviews, it was “clear” that Ingle was “far and away the best candidate.”
“She’s currently there at the front desk and her interview was really interesting because her passion for the job and love for the city are just so clear,” McHan said.
“I asked her, “Lindsey, how would you feel if we appointed someone else to this position?’ She said, ‘I would continue to do my job, wait for them to leave, then I would apply again.’ She’s very passionate and just a super lady who’s very confident with all the skill sets that fit that position.”
Ingle moved to the area with her partner Julie seven years ago, settling in Reed Creek. Ingle has an 18-year-old son Tyler and niece Leeanna, both of whom are set to graduate this year, Tyler, 18, from high school and Leeanna, 22 from university.
Prior to arriving in Hartwell, Ingle was an administrative assistant for XPO Logistics. Over the years, she got to know Partain through their mutual participation in horse shows and barrel racing.
“Moving here, it was pretty hard to find a job until Terri gave me a chance,” she said. “I was either overqualified or I didn’t have a degree so no one would talk to me. So I went and got my [Certified Nurse’s Assistant] license so I could have a job.”
Partain brought Ingle on as an assistant and office manager at Cardinal Home Partners, while Ingle worked as a CNA and farm manager at Lake Hartwell Safari.
“When Terri got the executive director position at the Chamber, and the [assistant position] became open here, she knew immediately she wanted to bring me in,” Ingle said. “She’s a great mentor and I couldn’t have done any of this without her.”
Working alongside Partain in the assistant role put her in charge of important roles such as organizing events. She thinks the experience will make for a smooth transition.
“Since I’ve been in that position, I’ve learned so much about this community and it’s really driven me to do more and be a part of this community,” Ingle said. “I want to grow in and with this community. I have a passion and drive to do that. We’re on the cusp of huge growth here and I just really want to be a part of that.”