The Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce ended its months-long search for a new executive director on Friday, tapping Missy Evans to lead the nonprofit into 2020 and beyond.

Evans replaces Andrea Owensby, who left the post in June for a job at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. She will assume the role Jan. 6.

“My husband, who is a Hartselle High graduate, and I moved to Hartselle in June,” Evans said. “We had a lot of connections here and we wanted to simplify our life and get back to what is important.”

Evans, who has served as an instructional aide with Hartselle City Schools, comes from a background of business, administration and education. She is an Auburn University graduate and attended high school in Orlando, Fla.

She moved to Hartselle from the Charlotte, N.C. area, where she and her husband lived for 28 years after meeting at Auburn.

“The largest part of my career is in church growth and administration,” Evans said. “I believe that my skills and experience will translate well here. I wanted to find a way to invest in Hartselle and I think this is an opportunity to use my experience to help.”

Grant McKelvey, chairman of the chamber’s board of directors, said Evans is a good fit for the job.

“Whenever you are hiring someone like this you want to make sure you’re taking the time to get it right,” he said. “Missy possesses a lot of characteristics that can make her successful. She is impressive and professional and she’s really going to help us.”

Evans said she hopes to hit the ground running in January.

“I love the chamber’s motto of making Hartselle a better place to live, work and play,” she said. “Hartselle has a very unique identity and, while I want to work to help see continued growth, I don’t want to do anything to take away from that wonderful character.”

McKelvey said the start of a new year is a good time for Evans to step into the role.

“We always have something coming up,” he said. “We just worked through holidays and we have the Cinderella Ball coming up Jan. 18. Kassi (Hill) has done a great job since July and I’m sure she’ll be happy to have someone else in the office now.”