Missy Kendrick, GEDA’s 2016 Annual Conference (AC) Chair, Executive Director of Barnesville-Lamar County Industrial Development Authority, and soon to be President of the Development Authority of Polk County (as of September 19th), and her committee have put together a great program. Don’t miss it, register today!
GEDA’s biggest event of the year – the Annual Meeting – is only days away, and I hope you have already made plans to attend. Missy Kendrick and her planning committee have worked long and hard on a great event, and I know you will not be disappointed.
As a local economic developer, I am anxious to hear the keynote presentation by Christopher Lloyd from McGuire Woods Consulting. “Growing Your Organization Amid Local Pressure – The Politics of Local Economic Development” is sure to be an eye-opener for everyone. I’m sure every development authority executive has at least one story of how politics impacted their economic development efforts, and I think Christopher’s presentation will be a welcome topic for everyone.
There is still time to register, so please do so today. I look forward to seeing you in Savannah.
The August 2016 GEDA monthly luncheon highlighted several Regional Economic Development Partnerships in Georgia. Tom Croteau, Deputy Commissioner, Global Commerce Division, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), moderated the panel, which included: Nick Masino, Chief Economic Development Officer for Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development and Partnership Gwinnett, and Chairman, Innovation Crescent; Pat Topping, Senior Vice President, Macon Economic Development Commission, who represented Greater Georgia; and Trip Tollison, President, Savannah Economic Development Authority, who represented the Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Joint Development Authority.
Way to go Missy Kendrick, EDFP, IOM, GEDA Second Vice Chair and Annual Conference Chair! Missy is moving to Polk County, where she starts as the new President of the Development Authority of Polk County (DAPC) on Monday, September 19th. Missy fills the position held by Rachel Rowell, who announced in June that she is leaving to move to the coast of Georgia with her family. Missy is currently the Executive Director of the Barnesville-Lamar County Industrial Development Authority, where she has served for 11 years. Read more…
Congratulations to Patrick J. Topping, CEcD, for receiving Honorary Life Membership in the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC). If you know “Pat,” you know there is no more deserving recipient of this prestigious award. Pat is Senior Vice-President of the Macon Economic Development Commission. You may send a note of congratulations to Pat at PTopping@MaconWorks.com. Thank you to Angie Gheesling (Houston County) and Matt Poyner (Milledgeville-Baldwin County) for nominating Pat for this award.
A shout out to Mel Baxter for taking the “Interim” off of his title. Mel was selected as the President of the Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority. Read more…
Meet Kelly McLendon, GEDA’s new Manager, Member Services, who will begin work on Monday, September 12th. Kelly currently works at Kellen Company, where she has been an Association Coordinator for the Healthcare Convention and Exhibitors Association, International Flight Services Association and the World Alliance for Retail Excellence and Standards. Please drop Kelly a note of welcome or call her (after Monday, the 12th) at 404-962-4110.
Lee Chapman, formerly Director of Legislative Affairs/Industrial Marketing, has been promoted to Vice President – Marketing, Member Services & Governmental Affairs for Jackson EMC.
Todd Evans started his new job this week with Pedernales Electric Cooperative, the nation’s largest EMC headquartered in Johnson City, Texas, as Director of Strategic Relations and Business Growth. Todd is responsible for business marketing, government relations, and some residential marketing functions. Previously, Todd served a Senior Commercial/Industrial Representative for Jackson EMC. We will miss you, Todd.
On a sad note, Bill York passed away recently. Bill was a longtime member of GEDA and worked at Oglethorpe Power Corporation (now Georgia EMC) on a couple of occasions, at the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce and had his own consulting business. Bill mentored many in economic development, including Ashley Swain, Project Manager in Columbia County, when she first started in the business while in Lincoln County. Ashley states that Bill was such a kind person and always had the most positive attitude. Ashley said “I will never forget him taking me under his wing as a young professional fresh out of college. He was supportive of me when no one else was. I considered Bill a colleague, mentor and most importantly a friend.” Rest in peace dear friend! Our prayers and thoughts go out to Ria, Bill’s wife, and their family. Read more...
Project Announcements
Voxpro to create more than 500 jobs in Athens-Clarke County
Innovative customer experience and tech support provider to invest $4 million in Athens facility
August 3, 2016 - Gov. Nathan Deal announced that Voxpro, an innovative customer experience and tech support provider, will create more than 500 jobs and invest $4 million in a new Center of Excellence in Athens-Clarke County by 2020.
Congratulations to the team involved in locating Voxpro, including: Ryan Moore, Director, and Amy Lopp, Business Development Specialist, Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Department; Nikki Yu, Project Manager, Global Commerce division, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD); Sean McMillan, Director, the University of Georgia Department of Economic Development; Brenda Robbins, Senior Project Manager, Georgia Power; Lynn Stannell, Georgia Department of Labor; and Pam Griffin, Director, Corporate/Customized Contract Training Office, Georgia Quick Start; and John Cushnie, Senior Vice President, Investor Engagement, and Sara Moss Melvin, Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Read more…
ADIDAS TO OPEN PRODUCTION FACILITY IN CHEROKEE COUNTY, CREATE 160 JOBS
August 10, 2016 – Gov. Nathan Deal and economic development partners celebrated the news that Adidas will open a new footwear production site in Cherokee County, creating approximately 160 new jobs.
A shout out to the team members who worked this project, including Misti Martin, President, Cherokee Office of Economic Development; Nico Wijnberg, Director of International Investment, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Global Commerce division; Walt Farrell, Senior Project Manager, Georgia Power; and Trent Williamson, Project Manager, Metro Atlanta Chamber. Read more…
Global Payments to Expand Presence in metro Atlanta
Financial Technology leader to establish HQ in Transaction Alley, will generate over 200 career opportunities.
August 12, 2016 - The State of Georgia announced that Global Payments Inc. (NYSE: GPN), a leading worldwide provider of payment technology services, will increase its technology personnel in Sandy Springs and locate their headquarters operation in the heart of Atlanta’s “Transaction Alley.”
Congratulations to the team members involved in assisting in this expansion, including Mary Ellen McClanahan, Project Manager, Region 3, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), Global Commerce division; Andrea Hall, Economic Development Director, City of Sandy Springs, Kevin Johnson, CEcD, Senior Vice President, and Randi Mason, Manager, Economic Development, Invest Atlanta; Marva Bryan, Select Fulton; the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Rodger Brown, Director of Strategic Communications, Georgia Quick Start; Mark Lytle, Vice Chancellor for Economic Development, University System of Georgia; Greg King, Associate Vice President for Economic Development, Georgia Tech; and Elizabeth Scott, Georgia Department of Labor. Read more…
Leading automotive supplier to create 150 jobs in Bartow County
voestalpine Automotive Body Parts Inc. to invest $50M, expand existing facility
August 16, 2016 - Gov. Nathan Deal announced that voestalpine Automotive Body Parts Inc. will expand its existing operation in Bartow County, creating 150 jobs and investing $50 million in the local community. voestalpine Automotive Body Parts Inc. is the supply base for the voestalpine Group, which produces ultra-high strength body-in-white components for premium car manufacturers.
Kudos to the team of Melinda Lemmon, Cartersville-Bartow County Department of Economic Development; Wylly Harrison, Senior Project Manager, and Stephanie Scearce, Regional Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Global Commerce division; and Charles Stallworth, Senior Project Manager, and Elyse C. Davis, Northwest Georgia Manager, Community and Economic Development, Georgia Power; all of whom were involved in the expansion of voestalpine. Read more…
Convergys Brings up to 450 New Jobs to Savannah
August 18, 2016 - Convergys Corporation (NYSE: CVG), a global leader in customer management, announced that it is opening and hiring at a new location in Savannah, Georgia that will create up to 450 new jobs when fully operational. Way to go Brandt Herndon, Vice President, Business Development, Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA); Alyce Thornhill, Region 12 Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), Global Commerce division; and their entire team. Read more...
Variety Wholesalers, Inc. to create 320 jobs in Coweta County
Retail chain to invest more than $10.5 million in Newnan distribution center
August 29, 2016 - Gov. Nathan Deal announced that Variety Wholesalers, Inc., a retail store chain, will establish its second major distribution center in Coweta County, creating 320 jobs and investing approximately $10.5 million in the Newnan area. The distribution center will support Variety Wholesalers stores as the company expands its presence in the southeastern, Midwestern and south central United States.
Congratulations to the team who worked this project, starting with Greg Wright, President, Coweta County Development Authority & GEDA 2016 Chairman; the Coweta County Commission; Josh Stephens, Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), Global Commerce division; Walt Farrell, Senior Project Manager, Georgia Power; Stacy Watson, General Manager, Economic & Industrial Development, Bart Gobeil, Director of Economic Development and State Government Affairs, and John Petrino, Director, Business Development, Georgia Ports Authority; Rodger Brown, Director of Strategic Communications, Georgia Quick Start; and Dan Stubbs and David Barber, Senior Vice President, Binswanger Management Corporation. Read more…
Home Chef to create more than 1,200 jobs in DeKalb County
Meal kit and recipe delivery service to invest $3.35 million in new facility
August 31, 2016 - Gov. Nathan Deal announced that Home Chef, a meal kit delivery service, will create more than 1,200 jobs and invest $3.35 million in a new DeKalb County facility by 2020.
Kudos to Ray Gilley, President, and Kara Keene Cooper, Project Manager, Decide DeKalb Development Authority; Josh Stephens, Project Manager, and Brittany Holtzclaw, Director, Logistics, Energy, Agribusiness & Food Team, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Global Commerce division; Trent Williamson, Project Manager, Metro Atlanta Chamber; Rodger Brown, Director of Strategic Communications, Georgia Quick Start; and Kevin Lovelace, Project Manager, Georgia Power; for their work in locating Home Chef. Read more…
Committee News
Professional Development Committee
We have $$$!
The Professional Development Committee has three available scholarships, $500 each, to attend one of these upcoming UGA Georgia Certified Economic Developer (GCED) courses. Please use the Penn Worden grant application on the GEDA website to apply for one of these scholarships.
The first GEDA Young Professionals Coffee with the Commissioner (Chris Carr of the Georgia Department of Economic Development) was very successful! In fact, it was so successful that there will be a SECOND(!!!) Coffee with the Commissioner on Monday, November 14th with Gretchen Corbin, Commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). This event will again be at the ECG Conference Room and Georgia CEO will provide financial support for breakfast and door prizes.
Contact Meghan Duke, GEDA YP Committee Chair & City of West Point Economic Development Director.
