At nearly every Buckhead Business Association event, amongst a throng of new people and nametags, there has always been at least one familiar person waiting to welcome members and guests.

With her chic glasses, signature metal jewelry and warm smile, Sharon Silva has become the face of the association as its executive director.

But Friday, after five years of dedicated work, Ms. Silva will step down from her position to focus on her personal and family life.

“She’s been a tremendous influence on our group,” said 2009 association president Elizabeth Gill, who joined the same year Ms. Silva was hired. “She’s been the rock.”

With a background in equipment financing as well as working for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Silva was brought on to the association in 2005 to increase visibility.

Having little set in place before her arrival, she almost had to start from scratch to build the position and create guidelines and direction. Still, she said the job could not have been a better fit for her.

“I’m very social by nature and I enjoy helping people make connections,” Ms. Silva said. “It’s a perfect fit. I don’t view it as a job so much as a passion.”

Beyond being a consistent personality for the association, Ms. Silva wore many hats as a secretary, event planner, administrator and Web master, just to name a few.

“The position has definitely opened up my areas of expertise. It’s never dull,” she laughed.

Her decision to leave a relatively recent one, Ms. Silva said she had mixed emotions about stepping down to have more personal time to travel, relax and spend time with her 89-year-old father, John R. Silva.

“I will still be an active member,” she said. “I’ll miss parts of planning, but I know I’ll be leaving it with very capable hands and I will be happy to help out however I can.”

The association is currently soliciting applications for a new director and will try to fill the position by mid-June.

Michael Moore, an association member for 11 years, has watched the association rise and fall over the years and said Ms. Silva’s work has turned it around.

“They really had no clue what to do with the all-volunteer association,” he said, referring to declining memberships and participation right before Ms. Silva arrived. “She saved the organization.”