MARIETTA - Marietta-based WellStar Health System recently selected two Cobb natives as the new chair and vice chair of its board of trustees.

Randall Bentley Sr., of the Marietta-based law firm Bentley, Bentley and Bentley, and attorney for the city of Kennesaw, was appointed to a two-year term as chairman of the board and took over the position July 1. Janie Maddox, retired senior vice president at Post Properties Inc., is the new vice chairwoman.

Bentley said he got involved with WellStar in 2005, primarily at the urging of former WellStar CEO Dr. Rob Lipson. Although he has always been active in the community, Bentley said he is honored to be involved with the world-class health system.

"I was born at Kennestone back in 1959," Bentley said. "And it's always been near and dear to my heart."

As the chairman, Bentley hopes to see the hospital system through these tough economic times. He said he is grateful to work with such a talented and diverse board of trustees, management and staff at WellStar.

"I like how we have a balance of people in the community," Bentley said of his fellow board members. "We have both business people and physicians ... We are truly blessed to have (CEO) Dr. (Gregory) Simone and such a great staff who have done everything they can during these difficult economic times to streamline our procedures and our costs."

Bentley previously served as the board's vice chairman.

Maddox, also a Cobb native, said she got involved with WellStar about 10 years ago, when she was asked to be on the board of trustees. She said she was originally interested in working with the health care system because she saw it as a way to give back to the community. As for her new position as vice chairwoman, Maddox said: "I am honored to be asked out of a group of individuals that are truly outstanding."

The board of trustees oversees WellStar's five hospitals: WellStar Kennestone in Marietta, WellStar Cobb in Austell, WellStar Douglas in Douglasville, WellStar Paulding in Dallas and WellStar Windy Hill in Marietta. The board manages more than $4 billon in gross revenue each year.

Primarily, the board is responsible for overseeing the system's finances and its charitable organization, the WellStar Foundation, credentialing the medical staff at each hospital and choosing its CEO.

Community members are appointed to the board of trustees for three-year terms. There are 18 trustees on the board, including WellStar's CEO.