June Brokers & Consultants Event at SweetWater Brewing Co. on Monday, June 19 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. (195 Ottley Drive, Atlanta , Georgia 30324 | 404-691-2537)
Thank you to our sponsor for this great event, Locate South Georgia, for its generous support!
August Meeting –Change of Date
So as not to conflict with the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) Annual Conference in Charlotte, NC on August 20-22, the GEDA board has decided to move our August meeting to Monday, August 14th.
2017 Spring Workshop (SW17) – We had a wonderful time at Lanier Islands Legacy Lodge & Conference Center in Buford from May 24-26! Jonathan Sangster, SW17 Chairman, GEDA Secretary-Treasurer and Georgia Power General Manager of Economic Development, put together a great program that featured keynote speakers, Janet Ady of Ady Advantage; Glenn Cornell, CEcD, Former Commissioner, GDEcD; Darin Mellot, Research & Analysis Director with CBRE in its Southwest Region; Kennesaw State University Economist Roger Tutterow; Lon Bumgarner and Tess Kincaid, Alliance Theatre@Work and seven breakout sessions sponsored by GEDA Committees and Shared Interest Groups!
Spring Workshop 2017 Program
Click HERE for the PDFsof the Power Point Presentations from the speakers.
To view images from the Spring Workshop 2017 Click HERE.
Click HERE to see all of our Spring Workshop sponsors!
Dates of FUTURE Spring Workshops & Annual Conferences
(put these on your calendar):
Spring Workshop
2018 May 9-11 Jekyll Island Westin & Convention Center
2019 May 15-17 The Lodge & Spa at Callaway Gardens
2020 May 20-22 Jekyll Island Westin & Convention Center
Annual Conference
2017 September 20-22 Hyatt Regency Savannah
2018 September 19-21 The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa
2019 September 18-20 The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa
2020 September 16-18 Hyatt Regency Savannah
2021 September 15-17 Hyatt Regency Savannah
Get in the Game
Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.
Have you ever heard this expression? Or maybe, “Get your head in the game?” In order to be successful, we need to focus on those things that are important. Georgia has been ranked as the # 1 Business Climate in the Nation by being in the game and by having our collective heads in the game. I mention these sayings because it applies to each and every one of us in this business of economic development.
Think you know of a person who would be a great future GEDA leader? Suggest a GEDA Board Member. Take a few minutes to recommend someone to the Nominating Committee to be on the GEDA board. The GEDA Nominating Committee will meet on Monday, June 19th, so the deadline for nominations would need to be in by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 16th. Click HERE for an application form and to see the Board Member and Secretary-Treasurer position-statements.
GEDA Member News
Charlie Moseley, formerly Executive Director, Henry County Development Authority, has accepted a position with the Metro Atlanta Chamber as Director of Project Management and Regional Partnerships.
Illya Copeland, formerly with the Joint Development Authority of Jeff Davis County, Hazlehurst & Denton, has moved to the Murray County Industrial Development Authority, as its Executive Director.
Taylor Edwards moved from Develop Milledgeville and Baldwin County where she was Development and Research Intern to Development Authority of Columbia County where she is the Economic Development Coordinator.
Ashley Morris Varnum will be moving to the GDEcD Aerospace, Durables & Advanced Manufacturing (ADAM) Team. Ashley has been a key team member of the Life Sciences and Corporate Solutions (LSCS) Team. Ashley was promoted recently to Senior Project Manager. Josh Stephens was also recently promoted to Senior Project Manager at GDEcD for the Logistics, Energy, Agribusiness and Food (LEAF) Team.
Hank Evans has been offered a position as Project Manager for the Logistics, Energy, Agribusiness and Food (LEAF) Team at GDEcD.
Laura Pemberton has joined GDEcD as a Project Manager for the Life Science and Corporate Solutions (LSCS) Team.
Randall Toussaint joined GDEcD as Project Manager for the Life Science and Corporate Solutions (LSCS) Team.
Sunny Anderson will join the GDEcD as a Project Manager on the LSCS Team.
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 May New Members
Michael Cahill, Douglas County Economic Development Authority Bill Dobbs, Georgia Department of Economic Development, Retired Alan Durham, Georgia Institute of Technology Brad Eyre, GEL Engineering, LLC Ali Harp, Dalton-Whitfield County Joint Development Authority Kevin Harris, Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency William F. Lindsey Daniel Martin, Georgia Mountains Regional Commission Dylan Munn, Jackson EMC Joel Wiggins, Georgia Municipal Association
Project Announcements
SWITCH DATA CENTERS TO INVEST $2.5 BILLION IN DOUGLAS COUNTY – Global Technology Company to create 65 jobs in metro Atlanta data center
May 25, 2017 — Governor Nathan Deal announced that Switch, a global technology solutions corporation, will create 65 jobs, and along with its clients, invest $2.5 billion in a Switch PRIME data center in Douglas County. The new metro Atlanta location will be the highest-rated data center in the Southeast.
Congratulations to Chris Pumphrey, Executive Director, Douglas County Economic Development Authority; Ashley Morris Varnum, Senior Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Global Commerce Division; Bob Kosek, Project Manager, Metro Atlanta Chamber; and Doug Coffey, Project Manager, Georgia Power; who worked this project! Read more…
ELIXIR EXTRUSIONS EXPANSION TO INVEST MORE THAN $8 MILLION IN DOUGLAS-COFFEE COUNTY
May 4, 2017 –The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) announced that Elixir Extrusions, a manufacturer of custom aluminum extrusions and fabricated parts, will expand its operations in Douglas-Coffee County. This expansion will create 100 new jobs, and represents an investment of more than $8 million into the facility.
Congratulations to the team of Andrea Taylor, President, Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Authority; Michelle Shaw, Assistant Director of Existing Industry and Regional Recruitment, GDEcD; Kelly Lane, Regional Representative, Georgia Department of Community Affairs; Kimberly Hobbs, Community & Economic Development Director, Southern Georgia Regional Commission; Lidell Greenway, Vice President of Economic Development, Wiregrass Technical College and their teams. Read more…
Other Announcements
GEORGIA’S TOURISM INDUSTRY IMPACT BREAKS RECORD - Tourism industry celebrates $61.1 billion in impact during National Travel and Tourism Week
May 9, 2017 – The Georgia Department of Economic Development announced that the state’s tourism industry generated a record-breaking $61.1 billion in business sales including direct, indirect and induced impact in 2016, up 3.5 percent, according to the U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics. Read more…
Plan now to attend the GEDA Annual Conference, then apply for a Professional Development grant to help defray your expenses. Other possible scholarship grants available are for UGA / IEDC educational courses, training, trade missions, etc. Contact Scott Poag, GEDA Chair, Professional Development; & Director of Business Development, Williams & Associates, for information.
Young Professionals Committee
Join GEDA for “Meet the Team” before the June GEDA Brokers & Consultants Networking Event at SweetWater Brewery!
Georgia Department of Economic Development Aerospace, Durables & Advanced Manufacturing (ADAM) Team will share Georgia’s core strengths and competitive advantages as well as tips on community presentations and marketing.
This program is FREE and open to ALL GEDA members; however, space is limited to the first 50 people who register by emailing Meghan Duke, GEDA YP Committee Chair.
Monday, June 19
3:30-4:30 PM
Centergy One Building, 75 5th Street NW
ECG – Suite 850
Panelists Include:
Georgia Department of Economic Development
Wylly Harrison, Senior Project Manager
Tony Greene, Project Manager
Ashley Morris Varnum, Senior Project Manager
Electric Cities of Georgia
Grant Cagle, Business Development Associate
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 Open for the August, September, October and November GEDA YP Spotlight. Contact Meghan Duke, Chair, Young Professionals, & Economic Development Director, Development Authority of West Point, for additional details.
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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Charlie Moseley, formerly Executive Director, Henry County Development Authority, has accepted a position with the Metro Atlanta Chamber as Director of Project Management and Regional Partnerships.
Illya Copeland, formerly with the Joint Development Authority of Jeff Davis County, Hazlehurst & Denton, has moved to the Murray County Industrial Development Authority, as its Executive Director.
Taylor Edwards moved from Develop Milledgeville and Baldwin County where she was Development and Research Intern to Development Authority of Columbia County where she is the Economic Development Coordinator.
Ashley Morris Varnum will be moving to the GDEcD Aerospace, Durables & Advanced Manufacturing (ADAM) Team. Ashley has been a key team member of the Life Sciences and Corporate Solutions (LSCS) Team. Ashley was promoted recently to Senior Project Manager.
Josh Stephens was also recently promoted to Senior Project Manager at GDEcD for the Logistics, Energy, Agribusiness and Food (LEAF) Team.
Hank Evans has been offered a position as Project Manager for the Logistics, Energy, Agribusiness and Food (LEAF) Team at GDEcD. 
Laura Pemberton has joined GDEcD as a Project Manager for the Life Science and Corporate Solutions (LSCS) Team. 
Randall Toussaint joined GDEcD as Project Manager for the Life Science and Corporate Solutions (LSCS) Team.
Sunny Anderson will join the GDEcD as a Project Manager on the LSCS Team.
