December 2011 Newsletter

Featured Articles 2012 Legislative Luncheon Staff Moves at GDEcD We Have a Problem $1,000 Cash Prize GEDA Legislative Team Holiday Hours Georgia Trend article GE Grid IQ Tours GEDA Ambassadors $1,000 Cash Prize!!! Got Your Attention? It's not a trick.  We ARE going to give away a $1,000 cash prize at Annual Conference in September to one of our members.  We know that our best marketing device is YOU!  Word of mouth is the way that so many people come to know GEDA.  So, we are asking you to help us find new members.  Is there someone new to the state or profession who needs to join? Encourage them!  Is there someone who has been thinking about it, but hasn't yet decided?  You can persuade them. The GEDA member who successfully recruits the most new members from NOW until August 31, 2012 will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize at Annual Conference.  It's just that simple!  All you need to do is to ask the new "recruit" to put your name in the "Referred by:" slot on the membership application.  We'll take care of the rest.  Now, get out there and EARN that prize!! GEDA's Legislative Muscle Our Biggest Public Policy Team Ever! In an effort to bring you the best information, the quickest updates and the finest legislative monitoring, GEDA will increase its presence at the Capitol in 2012.  Your Board of Directors has voted to renew the contract with Mr. Jim Finch to continue the fantastic work he did in 2011.  Jim was recognized by many legislators as the "go-to guy" when they had questions about legislation of interest to GEDA members, and we look forward to continuing that relationship. As an added bonus, GEDA has also entered into a partnership with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.  We all know of the tremendous power of the Georgia Chamber.  Chris Clark has pledged their support during the legislative session as well.  Now, when you get regular updates from GEDA during the session, it will be from the Georgia Chamber and Jim FInch - bringing you the best possible coverage of all things under the Dome!  Start looking for updates in January.   Holiday Office Closing GEDA Offices will be closed on Friday, December 23rd and Monday, December 26th in observance of the Christmas holidays.

2012 Legislative Luncheon The year is winding down to a close, and that means it's time for you to prepare for the 2012 Legisative Session.  Here is your to-do list ... 1.  Contact your local elected officials and invite them to the GEDA Legislative Luncheon.  (January 25, 2012.  Drop in, drop out from 11:30 until 1:30.  Legislators eat free!!) 2.  Tell your local elected officials how much you appreciate their time and that you are there to answer questions about legislation that affect economic development. 3.  Make your plans to be in Atlanta for the Legislative Luncheon.  REGISTER TODAY!!!   4.  Invite your Board of Directors to join you at the luncheon. 5.  Have a wonderful holiday season, and dream of a successful legislative session.  THANK YOU to the Dalton-Whitfield Joint Development Authority for sponsoring! Staff Moves at GDEcD  The Georgia Department of Economic Development has announced a number of promotions and staff changes within the Global Commerce Team, effective immediately.  Tom Croteau will serve as Division Director for Projects.  Croteau was formerly director of the Logistics, Energy, Agribusiness and Food Processing (LEAF) team. Scott McMurray was promoted from Senior Project Manager of the LEAF team to its director. Blair Lewis was promoted from Senior Project Manager, Corporate Solutions to the director of the Corporate Solutions team.  Danetha Belk has been named Manager of Performance Measures and Training for the Global Commerce division. Joining the Aerospace, Defense and Advanced Manufacturing Team as Project Manager is Wylly Harrison. Darlene Smith adds Executive Assistant to GDEcD’s Chief Operating Officer to her current duties as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner for Global Commerce. Effective Jan. 1, Jennifer Nelson will move from deputy director to director of the Existing Industry & Regional Representative team when current director Dara Barwick retires after 25 years serving the State of Georgia. Mark Lytle, formerly director of GDEcD’s Foreign Direct Investment team, will become director of the Georgia Centers of Innovation. Jim Blair, formerly manager of Georgia’s office in Belgium and a Senior Project Manager on the FDI team, will become director of the Foreign Direct Investment team. Houston, We Have a Problem HURRY!!!!!!!!   GEDA has barely even announced sponsorship availability for 2012, and yet we're running out of opportunities already!!  As of right now, both Platinum sponsorship spots for Spring Workshop have sold, one of the two Platinums for Annual Conference is gone, the Legislative Luncheon has been taken; 4 monthly luncheons are covered and our newest opportunity - the mobile apps for the two conferences ... both gone. Rest assured - there is still room for you.  We still have three luncheons that need a sponsor, one more platinum and then everything else is open.  Gold, Silver, Bronze, golf tournaments, entertainment sponsors, beverage breaks ... act now before everything is gone!  GEDA cherishes our valued sponsors and the generous support thy give us.   If you have any questions about sponsorship opportunities, you can contact the GEDA Offices or Sponsorship Committee chair Brian Dill.     THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR MEMBERS FOR A WONDERFUL 2011.  WE LOOK FORWARD TO EVEN BETTER THINGS IN 2012.

Upcoming Events 2012 Legislative Luncheon: Wednesday, January 25.  Empire Room at the Sloppy Floyd Buildings.  Invite your board members and elected officials. February 20, 2012 - Monthly Luncheon.  Details TBC March 19, 2012 - Monthly Luncheon.  Details TBC.  Georgia Trend Article Did You See It? Thanks to the fantastic work of Andrea Schruijer and the Special Service Awards Committee, GEDA as able to get TOP-NOTCH coverage of our Deal of the Year Award winners!  The December issue of Georgia Trend Magazine has a great article about our winners.  (Article starts on page 97.)  Thank you Andrea, committee and Georgia Trend Magazine!) Also, Georgia Trend will begin an Economic Development news column in 2012.  Any location, expansion, development, etc. announcements can be sent to them.   Smart Grid Tour RSVP Now! After that November luncheon all about the Smart Grid, I know you're like me and you're ready to go tour the GE Grid IQ Experience Center.  GEDA will be arranging tours of the facility in the early part of 2012.  Let us know how many people interested and we can arrange the tours.   TO learn more about the facility, you can read about it here.   GEDA Ambassador Program The GEDA Membership Services Committee is starting a brand new program designed to help new GEDA members get acclimated into our group. Do you remember your first GEDA meeting?  It is likely that your story is like so many of ours ... you didn't know many people.  You walk into the group of a few hundred people who are acting like they're seeing long lost cousins.  It can be very intimidating.  Wouldn't it have been nice to have someone guide you through that maze? Enter the GEDA Ambassadors, a new program from the Membership Services Committee.  WE NEED YOUR HELP!  Volunteer to be a GEDA Ambassador and you can help those new mambers understand GEDA events and help them meet their new colleagues.  Contact GEDA if you're interested in helping out.

November 2011 Newsletter

Featured Articles What is a Smart Grid? Legislative Luncheon 2012 GEDA Calendar Sponsorship Opportunities Renewal Time! SAVE THE DATE!!!! Drop Everything You're Doing and Put These Dates in Your Calendar!! GEDA is very excited to announce our dates for the 2012 year!  Make sure to put these dates in your Outlook calendar, iCal, Day Planner or whatever calendar you choose to use.  JoAnne Lewis, Tim Evans and Angie Gheesling have some great ideas for programs next year - just like the great 2011 we have enjoyed! January 25.  Legislative Luncheon.  Empire Room-Sloppy Floyd Building.  (Will be very similar to the 2011 version.  Start talking to your legislators and local elected officials TODAY!) February 20.  Monthly Luncheon. March 19.  Monthly Luncheon. April 16.  Monthly Luncheon. May 16-18.  Spring Workshop at Brasstown Valley. June 18.  Monthly Luncheon. August 20.  Monthly Luncheon. September 12-14.  Annual Conference at Hyatt Savannah. October 15.  Monthly Luncheon. November date is to be determined. NOTE - no programs in July or December. We look forward to seeing you at ALL of our programs in 2012! 2012 Sponsorships! Be Heard!  Be Seen! GEDA cannot function without our many generous sponsors.  We continually strive to provide valuable and meaningful sponsorship opportunities to our membership.  Now is the time to consider sponsoring GEDA ... because some sponsorships have already sold out for 2012!! One new sponsorship opportunity has already been snatched up for 2012!  We are working with a third party to develop a mobile Conference application for your smartphones.  This will not cost you anything to download and use, but it should make conference navigation and planning so much easier. Also, please be aware that the Legislative Luncheon and the two  Platinum sponsorships for the Spring Workshop are sold.  Luncheon sponsorships remain!  Contact the GEDA Offices or Brian Dill to discuss GEDA Sponsorships.  And most importantly, THANK YOU!

What is a Smart Grid? You have asked us to deliver programs on emerging trends and technologies.  You have asked for more panels and fewer speeches from GEDA members.  You have asked us for nationally-recognized experts.  We are listening!  The Business Recruitment Committee is proud to present to you a panel of experts in the field of Smart Grid technology - an emerging sector that has great potential for ALL of Georgia. As we heard at the October Luncheon from our site selection consultant panel, Georgia is at the forefront of Smart Grid, i.e. developing out electric power infrastructure into a high-tech, digitial communications network.  This 'Smart Grid' enables local and state leaders to embrace the growing need for energy efficiency, renewable energy and electric vehicles.  There are billions of dollars being spent in the US annually on this technology.  There is a huge potential to attract high-paying jobs in manufacturing, assembly, distribution, office, administrative, sales and executive management to Georgia.  There are components of this technology that belong in ALL of Georgia! "The Smart Grid and its Impact on Economic Development in Georgia" will define the Smart Grid and show you how to prepare your community to recruit these jobs and the resulting economic growth we can all enjoy.   THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring the luncheon!  The November luncheon will be held at the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center on Monday, November 14th.  Since we have such a quick turnaround from the October luncheon, we are extending the Early Bird deadline until Tuesday, November 8.  Register today!!  And don't forget to bring your local elected leadership so that they can understand this exciting new develop opportunity!   Legislative Luncheon It's That Time Again! It's already November, which means that the Georgia General Assembly will be back in full swing again for the 2012 session.  And as we all know, if you wait until January to begin communicating with your legislators, IT'S TOO LATE!  So, NOW is the time to begin communicating with them about issues of importance to economic developers.  GEDA is currently crafting our 2012 Legislative Policy Agenda.  For reference, you can always review the 2011 version, which will likely have a lot of overlap with next year's.   More importantly, contact your Senators and Representatives NOW and tell them that YOU will be attending the GEDA Luncheon on Wednesday, January the 25th!  Legislators enjoy seeing their constituents visit them in Atlanta.  And GEDA is more than happy to provide the forum for those meetings.  Call your elected officials and urge them to join us on the 25th.  And your local elected officials and Boards of Directors will want to come too! The 2011 Legislative Luncheon was fabulous and very well-attended by Legislators and GEDA folks alike.  Let's make sure to do the same next month.  Start making plans and sending invitations today!

Upcoming Events November 14 Luncheon.  SmartGrid IQ Panel at the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center. NO DECEMBER PROGRAM Mark your calendars for the 2012 Legislative Luncheon: Wednesday, January 25.  Empire Room at the Sloppy Floyd Buildings.  More details to come later. New Members! Welcome to GEDA Andrew Carnes, Dalton-Whitfield County JDA Matt Carter, Pierce County Industrial Development Authority Scott Cooper, Tennessee Valley Authority Derek Long, Student Lacey Norman, KPMG Mark Thompson, Choate Construction Two Big Events Coming From Our Partners ... GEDA would like to make our members aware of two events coming in the next few weeks ... - The Fanning Institute has long been the 'go-to resource' for Development Authority Board Member Training.  Now, in response to demand, Fanning has created a new Advanced training.  The first offering of the new course will be held in Dalton on November 17th.  You can view the Registration Form or contact Diane Little (706-542-0159) for more information.   - The University of Georgia Terry College of Business will hold its Annual Economic Outlook Luncheon on November 29, 2011 at the Georgia World Congress Center.  You can find more information online or call (706) 425-3051.  The Atlanta luncheon is the first of ten being held around the state and features Dean Robert Sumichrast and Atlanta FRB President Dennis Lockhart.     Renewal Time! Avoid the Rush - Renew Early! It's super easy to maintain your membership in THE leading professional association dedicated to enhancing Georgia's economic vitality.  Just log in to your Member Portal page and click where it says 'RENEW' at the top left (near your name and personal information.)  DONE!  And I promise I won't bother you about it for another whole year!

October 2011 Newsletter

Featured Articles Annual Conference Wrap Committee Structure Changes 40 Under 40! CEcD Study Group Library of Documents IEDC Recognizes Two Georgians!   CEcD Study Group Learn From the Pros! GEDA is very excited to announce that we are creating a Certified Economic Developer exam study group!  Georgia has a very proud history of CEcDs. And we know that there are many of you that are nearing completion of the study and experience requirements to sit for the exam. GEDA's Professional Development Committee will host an informal session after the October luncheon to kick off this group.  This study group will be led by several people who have passed the certification and grade the exams.  If anyone knows how to pass - this is the group!!  Let us know if you are interested in participating, and make plans to stay a little after the October luncheon  Library of Documents Exclusive for GEDA Members Over the past years, GEDA and its committees have created/compiled a vast array of institutional knowledge.  We strive to provide documents and best practices to you as a benefit of your membership.  These documents reside on the individual committee pages on the website.  Now that we have approximately 80 documents, it has become increasingly difficult for you to find what it is you're looking for.  That defeats the purpose!!!  GEDA has now compiled all of the documents into one handy location on our home page.  On the right, under the "Quick Links" section, you will see a link to the "Library of Documents."  Here, you will be able to conveniently access everything GEDA has to offer you. Is there a document that we don't have?  Let us know and we will look into providing that for you!

Annual Conference Wrap We Survived Spring Workshop and now we Stayed Alive through Annual Conference!  What a great event we had in Savannah!  Our attendance was the highest we have seen in the past few years; the sessions were all well-done and highly praised afterwards - even Mother Nature cooperated as the majority of the rain stayed away from us.  In case you missed it, here are some of the highlights ... At our Awards Ceremony on Wednesday night, John Travolta ... I mean Tony Manero ... I mean Roger Harrison served as our MC for the night.  GEDA recognized three communities and two individuals with awards.  Our Deals of the Year went to: Small Community - Barnesville-Lamar County for the Piedmont Green Power project, Medium Community - Griffin-Spalding County for the Caterpillar project, and  Large Community - Cartersville-Bartow County for the Toyo Tires project. For individual awards, the Volunteer of the Year Award went to Mr. Philip Wilheit.  Mr. Wilheit has been a champion of economic development in Gainesville, Hall County and the state of Georgia for a very long time and is richly deserving of the award, as are so many of our volunteers around the state. The Rip Wiley Award for Professional Excellence was awarded to Dennis Chastain of Georgia EMC.  A Past Chair of GEDA, Dennis has guided the economic development efforts of Oglethorpe Power/Georgia EMC for twenty years now.  He has been a long-time supporter of GEDA, leading the Strategic Planning process in 2006.  Congratulations to all of our winners! To see presentations from the concurrent sessions on Wednesday or general sessions on Thursday and Friday, visit our Past Presentations page.  The photos are up as well.  As always, thank you to our sponsors and to JoAnne Lewis and her committee.  This event doesn't happen without you!   Committee Structure Changes From YOUR Feedback! Based on feedback from YOU, the membership, GEDA and Chair-Elect Misti Martin last week announced changes to our existing committee structure.  Instead of the same 15 committees we have enjoyed for several years, we will now have 10 committees (including one new one) and 6 Shared Interest Groups (SIG).  GEDA Leadership felt that 6 of our standing committees did not fit into the traditional, formal committee structure and deserved better attention from GEDA.  These 6 "SIGs" will serve as a place and a means for our members with interest in certain areas to meet and discuss subject matter, without having to focus in on completing certain goals for the year.  Many of you have said that you would like to get involved but are not interested in joining an official committee.  Well, here is your chance!  The Shared Interest Group is exactly that - a group od GEDA members that share an interest one aspect of economic development.  The SIGs can choose to meet when they like and can bring in subject matter experts to discuss those issues and items. To see the 10 committees, 6 SIGs and their chairs, continue reading this article ...   40 Under 40!  GEDA Members Recognized by Georgia Trend Magazine In the October issue of Georgia Trend Magazine, the 2011 "40 Under 40" honorees were unveiled.  On the COVER is Misti Martin (GEDA Chair-Elect) with the Cherokee Office of Economic Development.  Also honored are Brooks Mathis - Cobb County Chamber of Commerce, Brad Carver - Hall Booth Smith & Slover, Jennifer Fordham - DCA, and Luke Howe - City of Doraville.  Congratulations to all five!!

Upcoming Events October 17 Luncheon.  Site Selection Consultants Panel!!  At the Marriott Renaissance Midtown.  Register today! November 14 Luncheon.  SmartGrid IQ Panel at the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center.  Registration open soon. New Members! Welcome to GEDA Adam Causey, Griffin Downtown Development Authority Michael Garvey, Tift County Development Authority Kathryn Lookofsky, Athens Downtown Development Authority Tommy Lowman, City of Blackshear Jonathan Lupo, GDEcD Candice McKie, Gwinnett County Planning & Development Mary Renner, Renner Consulting Service Sabrina Young, City of Marrietta Nicole Ward, Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority Charlie Wilson, Hogan Construction IEDC Awards! Recognize Two Georgians! Bob Cassel recently received the "Pioneer in Modern Economic Development" Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Mr. Cassel was instrumental in founding the Georgia Industrial Developers Association nearly 50 years ago and is an Honorary Life Member.  This award was created especially for Cassel for his five decades of work with GEDA, Georgia Tech Basic Course, SIDC (SEDC), and AIDC (AEDC.)  He has...   Read the entire press release from IEDC.  Congratulations to Mr. Bob Cassel!! At the recent IEDC Annual Conference, our own Walter Sprouse received double recognition. He was recognized for twelve years of service on the IEDC Board of Directors and received Honorary Life Member Designation!  IEDC presented this award to Walter in response to his "lasting commitment to the field of economic development."  You can read the entire press release here. Congratulations, Walter!

September 2011 Newsletter

Featured Articles Annual Conference is Approaching! GEDA Strategic Planning Membership Renewal Time! TAG Excalibur Awards Celebrating Rural Georgia 2011 Events Calendar New Members State of the Ports Luncheon Governor's Tourism Conference   TAG Excalibur Awards Nominate Your Community's Companies TAG wants to hear your success stories!  What a great way to promote the companies in your area by nominating them for the TAG Excalibur Awards… These awards recognize Georgia’s “tech-enabled” companies who demonstrate exemplary competency in utilizing technology to enhance their business.  If you believe yours could be one of Georgia’s best “tech-enabled” companies, or you know of a company who is, apply today.   Important links!  Further information.  Application form. Winners will be selected in several categories: Small For-Profit, Small Government/Non-Profit/Education, Medium, Large, Creative.  The awards ceremony will be held on October 21st. Help your companies celebrate their success! Celebrating Rural Georgia Mark your calendars!!  The 2011 Celebrating Rural Georgia Conference will be a unique one-day conference - October 12th from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm.  The program will take place at the University of Georgia Conference Center - Tifton Campus. This year's program will feature Governor Nathan Deal, DCA Commissioner Mike Beatty and Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black. Come join other community leaders and stakeholders to celebrate diversity, creativity and our rural heritage! More information and details will follow soon...

Annual Conference is Upon Us!! We are just three weeks away from the GEDA's 48th Annual Conference!  Are you registered??  Highlights include: GDEcD Commissioner Chris Cummiskey Former Virginia Congressman Rick Boucher, discussing rural braodband Sales team trainer extraordinaire, Carol Johnson (one breakout session AND a general session!) Senator Ronnie Chance Your own personal, private Competitiveness Initiative Listening Session! GEDA Awards Ceremony SO MUCH MORE!! If you haven't registered yet, the time is now.  Early bird pricing ends next Friday, September 9th.  Also, we still have some hotel rooms available on Wednesday and Thursday nights at the Savannah Riverfront Marriott.  We'll see you there!  (If you need extra incentive, we will have over $3,000 worth of cash and prizes to give away during the Conference.  Must be present AND seated to win!)  Strategic Planning Shape GEDA's Future! GEDA Past Chair, Tim Martin, CEcD, EDFP and his task force have been working for several months to develop the next GEDA Strategic Plan, which will cover a five year period from 2012 - 2016.  Tim has reached out to various components of our membership over the past few months and, working in conjunction with GEDA elected leadership, GEDA staff and professional facilitators (thank you, Pat Merritt and Jim Lovett!!) is now prepared to unveil a draft of this plan to you - the membership.   GEDA is keenly aware of the fact that we exist to serve the members of this great association.  That is why we are coming to you now, asking for your feedback on this important document.  Please be on the lookout for an email from GEDA staff in the coming weeks.  You will be directed to the current draft of the 2012 - 2016 Strategic Plan.  The GEDA Board of Directors asks that you carefully review the document and make your suggestions for anything that you feel should be added, changed, deleted, etc.   The final draft of the plan will be presented to the membership at the Annual Business Meeting, Friday morning at Annual Conference.  The Board will then take any final comments and suggestions into consideration and will vote to approve the plan at their October meeting. Thank you in advance for helping GEDA accomplish our mission ... "to provide and promote networking and professional development opportunities and to shape economic development public policy." Membership Renewal Time! Okay, not quite yet ... But you CAN renew now if you'd like to.  If you budget allows for it, you can go ahead and renew for 2012 NOW.  Avoid the rush ... renew today!  You can go to your Member Portal page, and there is a handy-dandy "renew" link available there (right under your personal information at the top left).  It's simple and it's fun!

2011 Events Calendar September 21-23.  Annual Conference at the Savannah Riverfront Marriott.  Click HERE to reserve your room at the Marriott.  Click HERE to register for the Conference. October 17.  One of our favorite programs of the year!  The consultants panel will be held at the Marriott Renaissance Midtown. November 14.  Learn about Smart Grid technology from our incredible panel!  Hosted by the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center. Welcome New Members Amanda Blanton, Cobb Chamber of Commerce Kate Gary, Development Authority of Bulloch County Richard Thornton, Brantley County Development Authority Vicki Hyatt, City of Griffin Jonathan Lupo, Georgia Department of Economic Development  State of the Ports Luncheon Another Great Opportunity While in Savannah The Georgia Ports Authority has invited GEDA Annual Conference attendees to attend the 2011 State of the Port Address.  GPA's Executive Director Curtis Foltz will present the latest developments on the Port of Savannah.  Ticket price is $40 per person.  (Note - registration for this event is separate from GEDA's Annual Conference and is handled solely by the Ports Authority.)  To register, go to www.gaports.com and select the State of the Port link.  Or you can call 912.964.3885.  Registration closes next Friday, September 9th!   2011 Governor's Tourism Conference Sept 11-14 - Macon, GA The 2011 Governor's Tourism Conference will be held September 11-14 at the Macon Centreplex Convention Center.  Rooms are available at the Macon Marriott (right next door!) for only $124 a night.  Don't miss the biggest event of the year for Georgia tourism professionals!  Click here to read the full invitation letter.  Full agenda and registration links can be found here.