Spring Workshop - A great program is in store for those attending the 2017 Spring Workshop, which is planned for Lanier Islands Legacy Lodge & Conference Center in Buford from May 24-26.
Click HERE to view register for this event and find event details, including pricing, hotel information and option event options.
Click HERE to view the .pdf of the Agenda.
Click HERE to see to see the list of the Spring Workshop Sponsors.
If you are interesting in becoming a Spring Workshop Sponsor Click HERE for details.
We had a super turnout and a fantastic program last month when our program was at Pinewood Production Facility in Fayetteville for the “Focus on Film.” We heard from some great panelists:
Ed Johnson, Mayor of Fayetteville Brian Cooper, VP, Operations, Pinewood Atlanta Studios Rob Parker, President, Pinewood Forest Development Jeff Stepakoff, Executive Director, Georgia Film Academy Joe Hanna, Co-Owner, Hanna Brothers Motion Picture Catering
Thank you to our sponsor, Fayette County Development Authority and all of their team, including Darrell Hicks, Chairman; Niki Vanderslice, Vice Chair; Joan Young, Interim President; and Emily Poole, Vice President, Economic Development!
Economic Development is a Team Sport
You've probably heard this phrase before, especially if you have been in Georgia for any length of time. I feel this is a true statement and a realistic expression of the economic development efforts in Georgia. We have heard from some of our colleagues that this is the case and that other states don't do economic development in nearly a coordinated fashion as Georgia.
Congratulations to the GEDA March Young Professional Spotlight, Joshua Stephens.
Congratulations to the GEDA April Young Professional Spotlight, Hasco Craver.
Ashley Swain, formerly Economic Development Coordinator, Development Authority of Columbia County, has left to join the Columbia County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Jackson EMC - Congratulations to those recently promoted: Lee Chapman – Vice President, Marketing, Member Services and Governmental Affairs Brittany Caison - Vice President, Strategic Planning and Analytics; formerly Commercial/Industrial Engineer David Lee – Gainesville District Manager; formerly Sr. Commercial/Industrial Marketing Representative
New Hires include: Garrett Wiley – Commercial/Industrial Marketing Rep – Gwinnett; formerly Project Manager, Economic Development & Government Affairs, Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce Tate O’Rouke - Commercial/Industrial Marketing Rep – Gainesville; formerly Director of Economic Development, University of North Georgia Dylan Munn - Commercial/Industrial Marketing Engineer
Georgia Power - Congratulations, Tommy Wade, Senior Economic Development Engineer, who worked for Georgia Power for 34 years and retired March 31st! He will be greatly missed. He left the next day for Fort Lauderdale with his partner and will have a grand life hanging out on the beach.
Congrats also to Ricardo Palacios, who replaced Tommy in the leadership role as the Team Leader for Engineering.
Congratulations to Odessa Archibald and Matt Forshee on being seleted as Community Development Supervisors as part of the Georgia Power Community Development team.
New hire: Paul Schneider, who came over from the Transmission Department, replaced Tommy as the new Engineer. Paul is Georgia Power’s resident drone expert and is already greatly contributing to the team.
Congratulations to Earl Denham for joining Economic Development with the Ocilla Irwin Chamber of Commerce.
Congratulations to Kenwin Hayes on joining ReUrbanis as Managing Partner.
Bradley Harris with Georgia EMC has been promoted to Manager, Economic Development. Congrats!
If you are moving, changing jobs or getting a promotion, please let us know by emailing us at Info@GEDA.org, and we’ll publicize this in the GEDA newsletter.
GEDA April New Members
Menelik Alleyne, Georgia Department of Economic Development Chris Cannon, Georgia Department of Economic Development Eleanor Cornelius, Chair, College Park Business and Industrial Authority Taylor Edwards, Development and Research Intern, Develop Milledgeville and Baldwin County Justin Haight, Georgia Department of Economic Development Ben Hames, Georgia Department of Economic Development Abby Harrison, Georgia Department of Economic Development Jarred Howard, Economic Development, BNSF Railway Anna Hurt, Georgia Department of Economic Development Sheoyki Jones, Portfolio and Research Coordinator, Invest Atlanta Jamie Jordan, Georgia Department of Economic Development Brett Lacy, Georgia Department of Economic Development Bridget Lanier, Student, Georgia State University Zachary Montgomery, Community & Economic Development Director, City of Union City Georgia John Morehouse, Georgia Department of Economic Development Amber Pelot, Senior Associate, Alston & Bird LLP Janet Pulsipher, Georgia Department of Economic Development Matt Tarleton, Vice President and Pricipal, Market Street Services David Welden, Vice President of Economic Development, Gwinnett Technical College Glen Whitley, Georgia Department of Economic Development Stella Xu, Georgia Department of Economic Development Sam Young, Director of Economic Development, Greene County Board of Commissioners
Project Announcements
Lake Foods Expansion to Create 130 Jobs in Hart County
April 27, 2017 –The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) today announced that Lake Foods, LLC will create 130 new full-time jobs and invest $8 million in Hart County. This expansion news more than doubles their workforce.
Congratulations to those involved, including Dwayne Dye, Director of Economic Development, Hart County Industrial Building Authority; Tammy Caudell, Senior Project Manager, Region 2, GDEcD Existing Industry and Regional Recruitment Team, Global Commerce Division; the City of Hartwell; Georgia Department of Community Affairs; and the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission. Read more…
Other Announcements
State Announces Trade Five, a Skilled Trade Education Program
March 24, 2017 –The Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Workforce division announced the launch of a new brand for Georgia’s skilled trade education initiative Trade Five, formerly known as Go Build Georgia. Read more…
Committee & SIG News
Professional Development Committee
Interested in attending the GEDA Spring Workshop or Annual Conference, UGA / IEDC educational courses, training, trade missions, etc., then apply for a Professional Development grant. Contact Scott Pogue, Chair, Professional Development, & Director of Business Development, Williams & Associates, for information.
Sponsorship Committee
The August Luncheon is still available for those who are interested in sponsoring a lunch in 2017 ($2,500). We are also still accepting sponsorships for Spring Workshop at various levels. Contact us today to learn more about the available options! Jessica Hood – jhood@selectburke.com
Entrepreneurship SIG
At the Spring Workshop there will be a session on Entrepreneurship on May 24th at 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM in Grand Ballroom B. The details of the session:
Moderator, Mark Farmer, GEDA Chair, Entrepreneurship & Economic Development Manager, Gwinnett County Government
Panelists:
Bill Boone, Entrepreneur Outreach Specialist, The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center
Lynn Kemp, Business Owner, Canoe Look LLC, Blue Ridge
Heather Seckman, Director of Economic Development, Rome-Floyd County Chamber of Commerce
At the GEDA Spring Workshop at Lake Lanier Island Legacy Lodge May 24-26 there will be a session on Rural Development and panelists will include: DCA Commissioner Camila Knowles, Representative Sam Watson and Senator Steve Gooch. Topics will include Rural Downtown Revitalization Bill, the newly created Georgia Rural Development Council and findings from the Rural Broadband Study Committee. I’m excited that this workshop includes information that will be pertinent to rural communities. You can register here as well as get information on the topic, date and time of sessions.
Young Professionals Committee
GEDA Young Professional Spotlight
Join GEDA in recognizing Young Professionals throughout 2017 by nominating a young emerging leader in the economic development profession for GEDA’s YP Spotlight. Nominations should provide a detailed application of significant career achievements to date and the impact of those achievements on their economic development organization and the community as a whole, and also explain how these achievements contribute to the advancement of economic development as a profession.
Nominations are open for the June, August, September, October and November GEDA YP Spotlight. Contact Meghan Duke, Chair, Young Professionals and Economic Development Director, City of West Point, for additional details.
Young Professional Wakeboarding/surfing Thursday afternoon at the GEDA Spring Workshop
The Young Professionals have received an invitation by Ron Bertasi with GIS WebTech to take advantage of the lake at GEDA’s Spring Workshop at Lake Lanier Thursday, May 25th.
Ron has offered to take GEDA Young Professionals out for Wakeboarding or Wakesurfing during the free time Thursday afternoon. If this is an activity you would be interested in partaking in please let Meghan Duke (meghan.duke@cityofwestpointga.com) know as soon as possible for us to get a count of how many people we need to plan on accommodating. There is about 8 spots on the boat and we could coordinate 3 or 4 one-hour slots so everyone gets a chance to enjoy it.
Get involved in GEDA's Committees and SIGs to learn about projects and meet fellow members - visit your profile on GEDA.org to join. View the Committee and SIG 2016 Action Plans
Upcoming Events
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Congratulations to the GEDA March Young Professional Spotlight, Joshua Stephens.
Congratulations to the GEDA April Young Professional Spotlight, Hasco Craver.
Ashley Swain, formerly Economic Development Coordinator, Development Authority of Columbia County, has left to join the Columbia County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Georgia Power - Congratulations, Tommy Wade, Senior Economic Development Engineer, who worked for Georgia Power for 34 years and retired March 31st! He will be greatly missed. He left the next day for Fort Lauderdale with his partner and will have a grand life hanging out on the beach.
Congratulations to Kenwin Hayes on joining ReUrbanis as Managing Partner.
Bradley Harris with Georgia EMC has been promoted to Manager, Economic Development. Congrats!
