Margaret Thigpen, the new executive director of the Dalton Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), believes Whitfield County has untapped potential as a destination for tourists.

“The history of this area is a major strength,” Thigpen said. “The natural beauty is awesome. It’s close to major metropolitan areas in Chattanooga and Atlanta. You’ve got a great trade center. There are great restaurants.”

Thigpen’s job will be to find ways to market the area’s natural beauty, restaurants, trade center and other features to visitors — especially convention goers.

Thigpen started her new job last week.

She replaces Janet Cochran, who resigned from the CVB in July to take a job with the Georgia Department of Economic Development as regional tourism director.

Thigpen says her first few days on the job have been spent in an intensive study of the CVB and its work in the area.

“I’ve been finding out more about the projects it has been involved with, where it has come from and the direction the board wants to go in and just getting ready for a new year,” she said.

The CVB is governed by the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center Authority and funded by the city of Dalton and by Whitfield County.

Kathryn Sellers, chairwoman of the trade center authority, said after Thigpen was hired that her “energy and experience stood out.” Sellers said about 18 people applied for the post.

The CVB is the official marketing organization for Dalton and Whitfield County. It has an annual budget of approximately $300,000 and three full-time employees, including the director, as well as one part-time employee and three-part time employees in the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center.

The CVB’s offices are in Tunnel Hill, near the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center, but Thigpen says the trade center authority is talking about moving those offices to downtown Dalton.

“They want to increase (the CVB’s) visibility,” she said.

Sellers says there have been talks with city officials about moving into the freight depot near Morris Street. A citizens committee is currently studying uses for that building.

Thigpen, who turns 32 this week, brings a background in sales and conventions to the job.

Born in Tuscaloosa, Ala. and raised in Greensboro, Ala., Thigpen earned a bachelor of science degree in human environmental science from the University of Alabama.