Join your fellow economic developers as we gather on beautiful, sunny St. Simons Island, on the Georgia coast for our annual GEDA Spring Workshop May 18-20, 2016. Brian Dill, the SW16 Chair, has created a dynamic and educational program focusing on Georgia's Workforce. We will hear from experts in the aerospace, financial technology, and automotive industries; discover how brand awareness and workforce recruitment tools influence decisions; and learn more about the GRAD site certification process. Register now to get the early rate. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Confirmed speakers include: Mark Lautman, Author | Speaker | Economic Architect http://www.marklautman.com/; Steve Hester, Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives, Chick-Fil-A https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevehester; and Roger Tutterow, Professor | Director, Econometric Center, Coles College of Business, Kennesaw State University http://coles.kennesaw.edu/faculty/tutterow-roger.php.
The annual GoGlobal reception will take place Tuesday, March 8 from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the Atlanta History Center. This event helps to welcome Georgia’s international representatives to the state and also serves as a networking opportunity for Georgia’s international community. Governor Deal will be on hand to present the Globe awards. Online is closed, but registration on site is available for $50.
Our March luncheon is sure to be entertaining and educational. I met Gray Swoope, our speaker, in 2008 when he was executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority. I sat on a panel with Gray and Neal Wade, the former director of the Alabama Development Office. Luckily, I got to speak first then sit back and learn from the wisdom of Gray and Neal. I know that you will be as entertained as I was that day to hear from Gray on March 21st.
Thank you, Commissioner Chris Carr and the Georgia Department of Economic Development for sponsoring the February GEDA luncheon, which highlighted five award-winning Rock Stars of Small Business. Congratulations to those feted:
Vizitech USA-Putnam County
D&J Plastics-Quitman County IAC
Thealth-Muscogee County
Creature Comforts Brewing Company-Athens-Clarke County
Reformation Brewery-Cherokee County
Big thanks to Mary Ellen McClanahan, Director, Entrepreneur & Small Business and Metro Project Manager, for her leadership and support in coordinating this annual program. We are grateful to you and to all those who worked to make this program a success!
TEXTRON SPECIALIZED VEHICLES INC. TO CREATE 400 JOBS IN AUGUSTA
February 18, 2016— Walter Sprouse, Executive Director, Augusta Economic Development Authority; Adela Kelley, Senior Project Manager, Region 7, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD); in partnership with Quick Start; and the Georgia Department of Labor worked to assist Textron. READ MORE
GEDA New Members
Mark Bennett, Manager, Community Investments, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., Savannah
State Senator Brandon Beach, President & CEO, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Alpharetta
Steven Chiariello, Principal, Inman Solar Incorporated, Atlanta
Charles Johnson III, Attorney, Holland & Knight, Atlanta
Dell Keith, Executive Director, Wayne County Industrial Authority, Jesup
Matt Morris, Executive Director, Development Authority of McDuffie County, Thomson
Madison Roesel, Marketing & Business Development Coordinator, H.A. Sack Company, Savannah
Diane James, MDIV Candidate, Emory Candler School of Theology, Atlanta
NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
London Mainor has been named Executive Director of the Terrell County Chamber of Commerce in Dawson, GA. Please reach out to welcome London and welcome her. She's available at 229-995-2011 or: TCCC@Windstream.net.
Committee News
Young Professionals Committee
Millennials - Not Cut From The Same Cloth
Peter Tokar, Economic Development Director, Alpharetta Department of Economic Development
It pains me every time I see an article about the millennial generation or hear (mostly non-millennials) speak in a public forum about what we want, where we want to live, and what makes us do the things we do. As to suggest that the millennials have been a well-studied research project, and here are the findings. If there ever was a REAL study done, of ALL millennials, the rhetoric would be quite different. Let's break it down from a non-scientific, non-focus group, non-survey point of view for a second because no generation can be summed up by a bunch of data.
Congratulations to Jason Dunn (Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Development Authority) and Katie Thomason (Catoosa County Development Authority), who received GEDA scholarship to attend the Basic Economic Development Course at Georgia Tech. The next deadline for grant applications from GEDA, including three available awards for Spring Workshop 2016, is March 31. Explore the Professional Development link on GEDA’s website for more information.
