The August 15 GEDA Luncheon Program will feature economic development partnerships. Tom Croteau, Deputy Commissioner, Global Commerce Division, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) will moderate the panel of Nick Masino, Senior Vice President of Economic Development, Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development, and Chairman, Innovation Crescent; Pat Topping, Senior Vice President, Macon Economic Development Commission, who will represent Greater Georgia; and Trip Tollison, President, Savannah Economic Development Authority to represent the Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Joint Development Authority.
Networking begins at 11:00 a.m., and the program and lunch begin at noon. Location: Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel, 866 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30308.
Big thanks to our August luncheon sponsor: Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Department.
June Brokers and Consultants Networking Event Summary
The June Brokers’ & Consultants’ Networking Event at SweetWater Brewing Company on June 20th was a rousing success. GEDA members and guests enjoyed the different format for networking, in the evening, without a formal program and with a SweetWater brew in-hand. Thank you to our brokers and consultants for attending and taking time to get to know our members better. Thank you also to Darrell Moore, Chairman, and the entire membership of Locate South Georgia for its sponsorship of this great event. Additionally, thank you to the wineries that donated product for our event: Gin Creek Plantation, Horse Creek Winery and Still Pond Vineyard; and to Electric Cities of Georgia, which helped with sponsorship.
Join your fellow economic developers as we gather at the Hyatt Regency Savannah on September 21-23, 2016, for the GEDA Annual Conference. Conference Chair Missy Kendrick, GEDA Second Vice Chair and Executive Director of the Barnesville-Lamar County Industrial Development Authority, is finalizing the program. Confirmed keynote speaker for Wednesday afternoon is Christopher Lloyd of McGuire Woods Consulting.
.
We have reached the halfway point in our GEDA program year, and I am delighted with where we are as an organization. I can assure you that your GEDA board, staff, committee chairs and shared interest group chairs are committed to helping provide you with the greatest possible return on your membership investment. Our luncheons have been outstanding this year, and I am still hearing rave reviews about the Spring Workshop. There are more great things to come this year, and I want you to know how much we appreciate your membership in GEDA.
Congratulations to Ilka McConnell, CEcD, Vice President, Economic Development, Athens Technical College, Ilka earned the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation after passing the exam in June. Way to go, Ilka!
Big shout-out to GEDA member Dr. Andrea Daniel on her appointment as President of Athens Technical College. Formerly, she was the Executive Vice President at Athens Technical College before accepting her current position. The state board of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) voted during its monthly meeting in March to accept Commissioner Gretchen Corbin’s recommendation of Dr. Daniel to be President.
Welcome Sydne Smith to the GDEcD team. Sydne arrives on July 11 as GDEcD’s new Director of Government Relations and Policy. Previously, she was with the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
Be sure to send us your news or other member's good news you know of.
GEDA New Members
Henry Charlot, hcharlot@atlantaregional.com, Manager, Business Services & Partnerships, Atlanta Regional Commission, Atlanta.
Matthew Gambill, mhgambill@bellsouth.net, Executive Director, Georgia Association for Career & Technical Education, Kennesaw.
Mark Goodman, mark.goodman@gas-south.com, Business Development Manager, Gas South, Atlanta.
Kim Melhouse, kmelhouse@tpdesignbuild.com, Business Development Manager, Tiernan & Patrylo, Inc., Peachtree City.
Mark Moore, mark.moore@alston.com, Associate, Alston & Bird LLP, Atlanta.
Project Announcements
GE to launch global Digital Operations Center in Atlanta.
Kudos to Ashley Morris, Project Manager, Global Commerce Division, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD); Gregg Simon, Vice President, Economic Development, Metro Atlanta Chamber; Brenda Robbins, Senior Project Manager, Georgia Power Company; Greg King, Associate Vice President, Economic Development,Georgia Tech; and Randi Mason, Manager, Economic Development, Invest Atlanta.
Amazon to create more than 500 jobs in Jackson County.
Congratulations to Brittany Holtzclaw, Director, Logistics, Energy, Agribusiness & Food Team, Global Commerce, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD); and partners: Jim Shaw, President, Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce and the Jackson County Industrial Development Authority; Bradley Harris, Senior Project Manager, Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (EMC); and the TPA Group.
Granite To Expand in Cobb County, Create 50 New Jobs.
Congratulations to Shirlynn Brownell, Project Manager, Global Commerce division, GDEcD; and team, including Gregg Simon, Vice President, Economic Development, Metro Atlanta Chamber; Rob Garcia III, Workforce Development Manager, and Brooks Mathis, Vice President, Economic Development, Cobb Chamber of Commerce; and Doug Coffey, Project Manager, Georgia Power Company.
Pratt & Whitney to invest $65M in Columbus.
Congratulations to the team, consisting of Candice Scott, Regional Project Manager, Global Commerce division, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD); Bill Murphy, Brian Anderson, Brian Sillitto, Janeen Tucker, Katherine Kelly, Joe Sanders and Lindsey Braxton from the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the City of Columbus, the Development Authority of Columbus and Quick Start.
It’s time to celebrate our community and regional successes again. Has your community or region landed the Deal of the Year? The Deal of the Year Award has four different categories to ensure communities are competing within the same general size. To qualify, the project must have been announced publicly between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016.
Do you have an economic development cheerleader in your community who is always working to make your community a better place? Nominate him or her for Volunteer of the Year Award, and let us help you honor a special community volunteer.
The Governor Zell Miller Public Policy Leadership Award is reserved for a GEDA member who has demonstrated enduring commitment, dedication, and leadership in advocating and implementing public policies that are essential for sustained quality economic development in Georgia. Submit a letter of recommendation outlining the nominee’s contributions to economic development public policy. The GEDA Board of Directors may elect not to present this award every year.
Submit your nominations now! The deadline for all award nominations is August 5, 2016. Contact: Andrea Taylor (912-384-1873) or ataylor@douglasga.org.
Do you have a great 'leave behind' you use during your industry visits? Did your community issue a 'Proclamation of Support' during Manufacturing Appreciation Week? If so, and you're willing to share with the rest of us, send a PDF copy to John Scott at johnscott@bwkeda.com.
Professional Development Committee
Scholarships are available for the 2016 Annual Conference. Explore the Professional Development link on GEDA’s website for more information.
