FRANKLIN—Since learning of her nomination to the latest Top Forty Under Forty, Amanda Jarratt has thought a lot about the recognition and what it means to her. Foremost are her children.

“My kids are my motivation,” said Jarratt, 31, president and chief executive officer of the Franklin-Southampton Economic Development Inc. She’s hopeful that her work in attracting and maintaining businesses and industries will continue to make this part of Western Tidewater flourish. Further, she wants the area to be a place where “the next generation will want to return.”

The Top Forty Under Forty is the annual recognition of young men and women by Inside Business, a regional publication, with TowneBank as the presenting sponsor.

Theresa Beale, executive director of the Franklin-Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce, nominated both Jarratt and Rhonda Stewart, executive director of The Village at Woods Edge.

“They’re both very outstanding individuals,” Beale said. “Both serve on our chamber board. We’ve gotten to know them very well, and we respect both of them for the positive impact they’ve made on our community through their careers and their personal lives. We’re just real proud of both of them and enjoy working with them through the chamber.”

Jarratt remembered learning of the nomination.

“What were you thinking,” she laughed when the chamber and board members told her.

The work is demanding, grueling even, with the 40-plus hours that Jarratt frequently has to put in each week.

“Whatever it takes to get the job done,” she acknowledged. “My schedule’s crazy.”

But validation recently came from her oldest daughter, Chloe, 4.

“I’m so proud of you,” she told her mother after learning about the award.

“Then all those meetings are a good thing,” said Jarratt, who strives to balance her life as a businesswoman with being a wife to Billy Jarratt, a mom to Chloe and Claire, 14 months old, as well as caretaker of the family dog, Little Buddy. They live in Courtland.

Her own parents are Steven and Annette Crocker, who live outside of Ivor, where she grew up. Jarratt attended the elementary, middle and high schools in Windsor.

She came to FSEDI first as a marketing manager in 2011. When the previous president, John Smollak, left in March 2012, “the board said I’d be the best fit to fill the role,” said Jarratt.

“I felt ready,” she continued. “It’s a job with a lot of pressure both internal and external. It can be a little overwhelming, but I have a positive support staff.”

Previous to all this, Jarratt was in planning in New Kent County. She had majored in government and economics at The College of William and Mary, then later earned a degree in regional planning from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Going next to Franklin, she was deputy director of community development, and later got an offer in Roanoke Rapids, N.C., before coming back.

Jarratt found out that government work suits her ever since attending a senior seminar at W&M. The class of 10 studied the subject and learned all the different roles involved in leading a community.

“I was fascinated by it,” she said, adding as an aside that previously she was considering becoming a lawyer, but realized that was not her passion.

“I’ve always wanted to be in and around local government,” she continued. “You work with all departments and become well-rounded.”

Looking ahead into Franklin and Southampton’s future, Jarratt wants it to “grow to a place where it’s a key developer of positive change. Franklin and Southampton … we’re redefining ourselves. We need to be more in the driver’s seat.”