TRENTON — An aide to Gov. Chris Christie who resigned in February amid growing furor over the lane closings last year at the George Washington Bridge has returned to the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey, the group confirmed today.

The former aide, Christina Genovese Renna, was hired as vice president and will oversee all government relations functions, public policy meetings and day-to-day lobbying efforts, the chamber's president, Debra DiLorenzo, said in an email statement.

"Christina's experience and stellar reputation combined with her unwavering work ethic and integrity will only increase the Chamber's already outstanding reputation as the South Jersey business community's voice in Trenton," DiLorenzo said.

Genovese Renna was director of governmental affairs for the chamber from 2007 to 2010 before being hired by Christie as director of business affairs, according to her LinkedIn page. She was also Christie's legislative liaison and director of departmental relations.

In her most recent job, Genovese Renna was the governor's director of intergovernmental affairs and a top aide to then-Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Anne Kelly, who wrote a now infamous email stating, "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee."

The disclosure of the email, a reference to the lane closings, in January for the first time linked Christie's office to the scandal and spurred federal and legislative investigations.

Kelly was fired by Christie that month, and Genovese Renna left her post in February. She said at the time she had been considering returning to the private sector since Christie was re-elected in November.

Genovese Renna was among dozens subpoenaed by a joint legislative committee investigating the lane closings at the bridge, and she testified before the panel in May. She told lawmakers said she had no knowledge or involvement in the closings, and feared she would be fired if she spoke up about suspicious activity by Kelly, who was her boss.

In a separate matter, Genovese Renna has been the target of criticism from environmentalists who say her marriage to Michael Renna, a top executive of the firm behind a controversial gas pipeline through the Pinelands, created a conflict of interest during her time working for Christie. Her attorney has dismissed the issue as baseless.

Christopher Baxter may be reached at cbaxter@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cbaxter1. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.