**In order to read many of the GEDA articles linked to in this newsletter you must be logged into the GEDA website using the instructions above.**
Renew your membership today!
Members from 2018 have until the end of March to renew their dues before being dropped from our rolls. If you haven’t done so already, update your profile. Click here for tips and directions. You can also contact Kelly McLendon, Manager, Member Services, at 404-962-4110 or 404-955-4840 with any questions.
Register now to attend the GEDA March Luncheon, the Small Business Rock Star Awards at the Georgia Aquarium. Plan to bring a small business person or two as guest(s) to attend with you. Thank you to our sponsors: the Georgia Department of Economic Development and Georgia CEO! Governor Brian P. Kemp will take photographs with the Rock Star Award-Winners and provide a few brief remarks at the beginning of our lunch. Make sure to join us.
Thank you to everyone who attended our February luncheon on Monday, February 18th at the Georgia Tech Hotel. Chris Pumphrey, GEDA First Vice Chair and Executive Director, Douglas County Economic Development Authority, provided us with a great panel on workforce in action.
Breezy Straton, Douglas County Economic Development Authority, Director of Existing Industry, Workforce, & Compliance
Mandy Johnson, Douglas County School System, Director of CTAE and Partners in Education
Beverly Tate, Gordon Food Service, Human Resources Director
Leigh Newman, West Georgia Technical College, Executive Director of Economic Development
Joseph McKnight, Medline Industries, Human Resources Manager
With the General Assembly gaveling in the 2019 session, all eyes have turned toward the Gold Dome for issues ranging from education to broadband. During the 40-day session, lawmakers will hear from thousands of people, each person representing a different agenda or special interest.
Are you in touch with your state representatives on important issues? Or better yet, does your legislative delegation even know who you are?
The old saying is true: “Economic Development is all about Relationships,” and in politics, relationships play a big part in the realm of legislation. If you’ve already formed personal relationships with your representatives and senators, you have a unique opportunity to influence legislation.
Ray Gilley, formerly Executive Director, Decide DeKalb Development Authority, is now Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Economic Development in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Grant Cagle was promoted to Senior Project Manager, Economic & Community Development at Electric Cities of Georgia.
Chance Raehn has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Development at Chesterfield.
Bob Kosek, formerly at the Metro Atlanta Chamber, is now a Senior Project Manager of Business Attraction at Invest Atlanta.
GEDA New Members
To view the new GEDA members, clickHERE.If you are moving, changing jobs or getting a promotion, please let us know by emailing us at kshea@georgia.org, and we’ll publicize this in the GEDA newsletter.
Project Announcements
** Names highlighted in green below are GEDA members with hyperlinks to their email addresses.**
ZKTeco Creating 40 Jobs, Investing $5 Million in Fulton County
Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp and the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) today announced that ZKTeco, a global manufacturer of RFID and biometric technology security solutions, will create forty (40) new jobs and invest over $5 million in the relocation and expansion of its U.S. headquarters to Alpharetta. Newly created job placements will consist of inside sales, technical support, research and development, light assembly, quality control, and logistics personnel.
Kudos to the following team members, who worked to locate this project: Matthew Thomas, Economic Development Manager, City of Alpharetta; Randall Toussaint, Senior Project Manager, , Susan Contreras, Assistant Director of Research, and Sajani Patel, Research Analyst, GDEcD Global Commerce Division; Lauren Lambiase, formerly Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power (now at Alabama Power); Bob Kosek, formerly Senior Project Manager (now at Invest Atlanta), Rebecca Jordan, Project Manager, and Grant Wainscott, Sr. Director of Technology/Creative Metro Atlanta Chamber; and Stacy Watson, General Manager, Economic & Industrial Development, Georgia Ports Authority. Read more…
Boehringer Ingelheim To Create 225 Jobs, Invest Over $120 Million in Georgia February 7, 2019 - Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc., a leading animal health company, will create 225 jobs and invest more than $120 million in Gwinnett, Clarke, and Hall counties. The company has located its North American headquarters in Duluth, creating 75 new jobs; is adding more than 100 new jobs at its manufacturing and R&D facility in Athens; and more than 50 jobs at the company’s Gainesville manufacturing facility.
Congratulations to a large cast of characters on the team that included: Nick Masino, Chief Economic Development Officer, Andrew Carnes, Senior Director of Economic Development, and Megan Wing, Project Manager, Technology & Life Science, Partnership Gwinnett; Tim Evans, Vice President – Economic Development, Greater Hall of Chamber of Commerce; Ryan Moore, former Director of Economic Development, Michelle Nyguen, current Director of Economic Development, and Ryan Thornton, Economic Development Manager, Athens-Clarke County Economic Development; E. Jane Caraway, Special Projects Director, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; Brenda Robbins, Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power; Sean McMillan, Director, Office of Economic Development, University of Georgia; and Rebecca Jordan, Project Manager, Metro Atlanta Chamber. Read more…
Georgia Tourism Unveils New Campaign “An Invitation to Explore” Featuring visitor-generated content that promotes Georgia as a top vacation destination
Nominating Committee Update The Nominating Committee has the following goals in 2019:
1. Reflect GEDA’s diverse membership when selecting board members and Secretary-Treasurer considering gender, race, geography, and background/experience. 2. Give priority consideration to past or current Committee Chairs, SIG Chairs and Board Members for Board and Secretary-Treasurer positions.
If you would like to nominate a GEDA member for consideration as either a Secretary-Treasurer or Board Member, please complete and submit THIS FORM no later than May 1, 2019.
Professional Development - Scholarship-Grants Apply today for a GEDA Professional Development grant in 2019! GEDA awarded a scholarship to an International Economic Development Council (IEDC) course on Entrepreneurial and Small Business Development Strategies to Laura Linman, City of Chamblee, in late January. Congratulations, Laura, who has only two more courses to go before sitting for the Certified Economic Development (CEcD) exam next year.
Interested in obtaining a grant? The GEDA 2019 Spring Workshop takes place at the Lodge at Callaway Gardens on May 15-17. Four scholarships of $600 each are available to help defray costs of attendance. Apply for one today. Also, check out the University of Georgia’s Certified Economic Developer courses; as well as ones sponsored by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). For additional information on the Professional Development scholarships, look on the GEDA website, or contact Kevin Shea, President, GEDA at 404-962-4109. Be thinking about your professional development for 2019 and plan to apply for a GEDA scholarship to assist you this year.
Business Expansion and Retention Committee The Business Expansion and Retention Committee is gathering Best Practices from other communities in working with their existing industries. Many communities across the state host a manufacturers appreciation day to show gratitude to those existing companies for their continued efforts in maintaining valuable jobs. To submit resources to the Committee, email Heather Seckman, Committee Chair, at hseckman@romega.com.
Get involved in GEDA's Committees and SIGs to learn about projects and meet fellow members - visit your profile on GEDA.org to join.
