Visitors to the Bainbridge-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce are being greeted by a new face.

Shyla Deen began the position of executive assistant on Monday, Aug. 12.

Shyla grew up in Bainbridge, the daughter of Sherrie Bowers and Chuck McManus. She graduated in 2004 from Bainbridge High School, earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Thomas University in 2009, and a master’s in elementary reading and literacy in 2011.

She taught Pre-K for one year at Potter Street Elementary School, and for the last three years she has been working as a certified substance abuse counselor at the Bainbridge Probation Substance Abuse Treatment Center, a job she found to be rewarding and also very challenging. She said the hours and conditions were not conducive for a mother with young children in the home. In January, 2013 she left to become a stay-at home mother for son Mason, age 8 and daughter Isabella, age 11 months. She is married to Patrick Deen, director of credit administration at Southwest Georgia Farm Credit.

She appears to have settled with ease into her new position at the chamber where she is enjoying meeting and working with the public and satisfying her desire to be actively involved in the community.