ZELIENOPLE — Marnie Repasky, who has led the Zelienople/Harmony Chamber of Commerce for 17 years as executive director, will leave her post next month because of health issues.

Repasky's resignation will be effective Oct. 2.

"I'm truly going to miss it," she said. "It was a wonderful job. I have really enjoyed it."

Repasky said she'll miss working with chamber members, board members and volunteers.

As she pointed out that none of the chamber's work is done without the efforts of the board and volunteers, Repasky recalled some of the chamber's accomplishments while she has been executive director.

Repasky came to the chamber in 1992 and immediately became active in traffic issues affecting the borough and the surrounding communities.

The biggest push was for the completion of the Seneca Valley Interstate 79 ramps project, which has been on and off the regional transportation improvement list several times in the past decade.

However, construction is now scheduled to start this year or in early 2010, depending on the completion of the Harmony Junction Bridge replacement on Hartmann Road.

Repasky said one of her goals was to get grant funding for the beautification of the borough, and she was able to land two state grants for $30,000.

She also was pleased to have a hand in the chamber's buying Christmas wreaths that are hung along Main Street and assisting former borough businessman Bob Householder with a project that included the installation of benches and trash receptacles on Main Street.

She looked at some of the chamber's programs, including networking breakfasts, after-hours events, a Christmas social and its involvement with the annual Business Showcase, an event the chamber originally did on its own, but now partners with the Butler County and the Cranberry Area chambers of Commerce.

She also pointed out the Zelienople/Harmony chamber's longtime support for the Junior Achievement program in the Seneca Valley School District. The chamber has been raising money for it for 16 years.

Repasky was instrumental in establishing the "State of the Union" legislative breakfast at which leaders discuss community happenings.

Julie Sacriponte, president of the Zelienople/Harmony chamber board, said she is sad to see Repasky go because she has been great to work with.

"She's been an excellent director for the past 17 years," said Sacriponte. "She'll be greatly missed. Whoever takes over will have big shoes to fill."

The chamber has established a seven-member search committee to seek Repasky's replacement.

The committee later will be pared down to four once a list of finalists is established. Those four committee members will be the president and vice president of both the chamber and the Zelienople-Harmony Business Association, which is a committee of the chamber. They will make the final recommendation to the board.

Sacriponte said the goal is to have a new executive director by the end of the year.

Kari Geyer, president of the Cranberry chamber, said she is surprised that Repasky is resigning, and said she will miss working with her.

Stan Kosciuszko, president of the Butler County chamber, said he's worked with Repasky for more than 18 years dating back to when he was with the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce.

"We've done a lot of collaborate efforts over the years," said Kosciuszko, saying Repasky was part of many legislative efforts and has served on the board of Leadership Butler County. "She's a unique personality who was perfect for her job. It's going to be hard to replace the qualities she brought to her job.

"Her heart was in Zelienople, and she gave everything to the chamber.

"The board is going to miss her," he said.