Thank you so much for your participation in GEDA in 2016! We enjoyed serving you, and look forward to the opportunity to continue serving you in 2017!
Click here for detailed instruction for the renewal process.
There is NO Meeting in December.
OR in January! We will meet next on Monday, February 6 for the GEDA monthly luncheon at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Midtown Hotel AND on Tuesday, February 7th for a Legislative Breakfast Drop-In at the Georgia State Capitol. Click on the banner to register for each of the events.
We had a great turnout for the GEDA Annual Awards at the November luncheon. Congratulations to all the winners! Thank you to the Honorable Brian P. Kemp, Georgia Secretary of State, for joining us to present the GEDA Annual Awards. READ MORE...
Well, the end of the year is fast approaching, and so, too, is my tenure as Chairman of GEDA.
First, let me thank you for the honor of serving as GEDA Chairman. I first joined the organization in 1996 and can honestly say that I have enjoyed every single minute.
Take a look at our refreshed website GEDA.org. We have updated a few things but still have more work to do. We will share more details about the redesign and what the changes mean for you next month. For now, the site should be easier to navigate and also more mobile-friendly. Let us know your comments and, as always, if you have any questions.
GEDA Member News
Hasco Craver, a GEDA member in Coweta County was recently promoted to Assistant City Manager in Newnan. Hasco serves as GEDA’s liaison to the Georgia Downtown Association Board. Congratulations Hasco!
Peter Tokar and Alpharetta’s innovative approach to marketing were mentioned in a Forbes.com article “Marketing a Tech City: How a Cat Video Changed Everything” by Andy Levine, President/Chief Creative Officer, Development Counsellors International.
Project Announcements
YANMAR America Corporation Will Create 25 New Jobs in Cherokee County, Invest $20M
November 1, 2016 —The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) announced that YANMAR America Corporation, a manufacturer of advanced performance diesel engines, equipment and gas engine based energy systems, will open a new training and customer experience facility in Cherokee County, creating 25 jobs and investing $20 million into the local community.
Congratulations to the team who worked on this project, including Misti Martin, President, Cherokee Office of Economic Development; Joseph Huntemann, Project Manager, Global Commerce Division, and Yumiko Nakazono, Managing Director, Japan Office, GDEcD; in partnership with Bradley Harris, Senior Project Manager, Georgia EMC. Read more…
UPS to Create 1,250 Jobs in Atlanta - Package delivery company to invest $400 million in distribution hub
November 10, 2016 —Gov. Nathan Deal, along with Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, announced that United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS), a package delivery company, will create 1,250 jobs and invest more than $400 million to establish a regional sorting and distribution hub in Atlanta by the end of 2018.
Kudos to Lindsay Martin, Director of Existing Industry and Regional Recruitment, Global Commerce Division, GDEcD; and Randi Mason, Manager, Economic Development, Invest Atlanta; who teamed-up on this project. Read more…
The Weather Company to create 400 jobs, relocate headquarters to Atlanta
November 16, 2016 - Governor Nathan Deal announced that The Weather Company, an IBM Business, will create 400 jobs and relocate its headquarters from Cobb County to DeKalb County in the spring of 2017.
Congratulations to Lindsay Martin, Director of Existing Industry and Regional Recruitment, Global Commerce Division, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), who worked this project. Read more…
With the able assistance of the University of Georgia, and particularly Stacy Jones, Facilitator Extraordinaire (Associate Director, Governmental Training, Education, and Development), with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, GEDA has updated its five-year Strategic Plan. Members of the GEDA Board, Committee and Shared Interest Group Chairs and other interested parties met twice this year to build on the input and suggestions of the GEDA membership. We finalized this living document at the Board Retreat at the Peachtree City Wyndham Hotel and Conference Center in November after the GEDA Annual Awards lunch. Click HERE to view this document. Let us know what you think and if you have any questions. Also, choose an area where you would like to put your talent and expertise to work and “jump in.”
Sponsorship Committee
On behalf of the GEDA Board and Staff, the GEDA Sponsorship Committee would like to thank each and every one of our sponsors for their generosity and support this past year. Without the continued support of our sponsors, we could not strive to make our organization one of the top professional membership organizations in the country. We sincerely appreciate your loyalty and look forward to working with you all again in 2017 and beyond.
If you are interested in one of the sponsorship opportunities above please contact Jessica Hood at jhood@selectburke.com.
Public Policy Committee
Make plans to join us for the 2017 Legislative Breakfast Drop-In at the Georgia State Capitol on Tuesday morning, February 7th from 7:30-10:00. We are sending an email to invite all Legislators to join us, and we encourage you to invite them, as well, to join us for a handshake, brief conversation, coffee, juice and a light breakfast. While you are at it, take a few minutes to discuss their legislative interests and yours. Click here to learn more and register.
RENEW your GEDA membership, today! 
