Register now to attend the GEDA 2019 Spring Workshop at The Lodge & Spa at Callaway Gardens. Sean McMillan, Spring Workshop Chair; GEDA Secretary-Treasurer; and Director, UGA Office of Economic Development; has put together a program worthy of your attendance. Hear from Rennie Curran, Author, Personal Development Coach & Entrepreneur, and Wednesday Keynote Speaker; Jason Broadwater, Founder and President of RevenFlo, an Internet Marketing Company, and Keynote Speaker on Thursday morning; participate in some great panel discussions; perhaps get lucky and win some money and prizes; enjoy a beautiful resort setting at Callaway; and meet new friends and renew acquaintances! It’ll be a blast, so come and join us.
Thank you to everyone who attended the April GEDA luncheon, which featured Governor Brian Kemp, who shared his plan for Georgia and about the recent legislative session. Held at the Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel, it was a sold- out event. Thank you to our sponsors, Seyfarth Shaw LLP and the Development Authority of Walton County! Click here to see who attended and here for photos.
GDEcD News
Governor Kemp announced two promotions recently, both on the Red Carpet Tour and at the GEDA April luncheon. Congratulations to:
Scott McMurray, formerly the Division Director of Global Commerce, is now the Deputy Commissioner for the same division.
Brittany Holtzclaw, former Director, Life Sciences, Corporate Solutions, Digital Entertainment and IT Team, is now the Division Director of Global Commerce.
Chair's Column
Spring Workshop
May flowers are blooming across the state, and with GEDA’s Spring Workshop just around the corner, you’ll have a chance to see some of the most beautiful flowers at Callaway Resort & Gardens. GEDA Secretary-Treasurer Sean McMillan has planned a wonderful agenda for the conference that will focus on the Evolving Role of Economic Development Organizations. We hope that you have made plans to join us for this fun and educational event. There is still time to register… do so today!
The Spring Workshop is a very special event for GEDA, primarily because it is a time for members of our profession to meet in a relaxed environment, learn from experts in specialized fields and swap best practices with each other. It is also an excellent chance to build stronger relationships with engineers, contractors, educators, and consultants, many of whom can help with a prospect visit, site development or community improvement project. Their expertise can bring a competitive advantage that will win new industry, enhance your downtowns or strengthen the ties that bind your leaders to a shared vision.
Nick Masino, former Senior Vice President for Economic Development, Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, has been selected to be the President of the Gwinnett Chamber, effective July 1
Ole Timers Gathering
A few more mature (mostly retired) former Economic Developers lunch at the Varsity. Randy Cardoza and Pat Topping not pictured.
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.**
Security Intelligence Leader Exabeam to Open New East Coast Office in Atlanta, Create 20 New Jobs
May 2, 2019 – The Georgia Department of Economic Development announced today that Exabeam, the California-based Smarter SIEM ™ company, will establish an East Coast presence in Midtown Atlanta and create 20 new jobs.
Way to go Randall Toussaint, Senior Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; Rebecca Jordan, Project Manager, Metro Atlanta Chamber; Doug Coffey, Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power; and Randi Mason, Director, Economic Development, and Bob Kosek, Jr., Senior Project Manager, Business Attraction, Invest Atlanta; who worked to get this project to announce! Read more…
Plastic Express to Expand Operations to Chatham County
April 24, 2019 — Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Plastic Express, a leader in the plastic resins industry, will expand operations with two new manufacturing facilities creating 166 new jobs and investing more than $172 million at the Port Logistics Center in Pooler. Governor Kemp joined company leadership including representatives from the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Savannah Economic Development Authority, Georgia Ports Authority, and more to celebrate this announcement at the Port of Savannah.
Congratulations to Trip Tollison, President & CEO, Matt Poyner, Vice President, Business Development, and Jesse Dillon, Project Manager, Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA); Hank Evans, Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; Charlie Moseley, Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power; Georgia Quick Start; Kevin Phillips, AVP, Industrial Development, Genesee & Wyoming’s Georgia Central Railway; and John Knox Porter, Capital Development Partners! Read more…
Chick-fil-A to Build First Distribution Center in Bartow County
April 18, 2019 - Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Chick-fil-A, among the nation’s top quick-service restaurant chains, will begin construction on the chain’s first company-owned distribution center in Cartersville that will create up to 300 jobs.
Kudos to the team of Melinda Lemmon, Executive Director, Cartersville-Bartow County Department of Economic Development; Hank Evans, Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; Joshua Stephens, Director, Project Management, Metro Atlanta Chamber; and Grant Cagle, Project Manager, Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG); Georgia Department of Agriculture; and Georgia Quick Start; who located this project! Read more…
Canadian Produce Company to Expand in Georgia
April 16, 2019 – Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that EarthFresh, a leading Canadian produce company, will create 100 jobs and invest $22 million in an advanced technology packing plant and distribution center in College Park.
A shout out to the following team members, who worked to locate this project: Wylly Harrison, Director, Logistics, Energy, Agribusiness & Food Team, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; Joshua Stephens, Director, Project Management, Metro Atlanta Chamber; Pamela Griffin, Director, Organizational Development, Georgia Quick Start, and Charlie Moseley, Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power! Read more…
Nivel Parts & Manufacturing to Expand, Create More Than 50 New Jobs in Grady County April 15, 2019 — Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Nivel Parts & Manufacturing, North America's largest independent provider of golf car aftermarket parts and accessories, will create more than 50 jobs and invest heavily in their existing facility in Cairo.
Way to go Julian Brown, Executive Director, Grady County Joint Development Authority; Tina Herring, Regional Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce; and Pamela Griffin, Director, Organizational Development, Georgia Quick Start; for your good work on this project! Read more…
Dematic to Establish Global Headquarters in Fulton County
April 10, 2019 — Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Dematic, a world leader in supply chain technology and innovation, will create more than 230 jobs and invest approximately $30 million in a new global headquarters in the CODA complex in Midtown Atlanta’s Tech Square.
Congratulations to the team of Sunny Anderson, Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; Randi Mason, Director of Economic Development, Invest Atlanta; Gregg Simon, Vice President, Economic Development, Metro Atlanta Chamber; and Brenda Robbins, Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power; who worked this project! Read more…
OS National to expand headquarters operations, create more than 1,000 jobs in Gwinnett County
April 9, 2019 – The Georgia Department of Economic Development announced that OS National LLC (OSN), a nationally recognized title and escrow provider, will create more than 1,000 jobs and invest more than $15 million in their headquarters in Gwinnett County.
Kudos to the following team members, who worked this project: Lindsay Martin, Director, Existing Industry & Regional Recruitment, GDEcD Global Commerce Division; Deven Cason, Senior Project Manager, Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management, and Shantell Wilson, Economic Development Manager, Gwinnett County’s Office of Economic Development! Read more…
33rd Annual International VIP Tour underway in Northwest Georgia
ATLANTA – April 24, 2019 –The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is currently hosting the 33rd annual International VIP Tour, taking place April 24-26. The International VIP Tour is a three-day event that showcases a region of Georgia to the Consular Corps of Georgia. This year the group will visit Northwest Georgia with stops in Calhoun, Lookout Mountain, Dalton, Rome, Adairsville, Cartersville and Kennesaw. Read more…
IEDC's Economic Development Week – Celebrate Economic Development Week, May 6-11. Check out the IEDC website.
Georgia’s tourism industry breaks economic impact record - Tourism industry celebrates $66.2 billion in impact during National Travel and Tourism Week
May 6, 2019 – Georgia Tourism, a division of The Georgia Department of Economic Development, today announced that the state’s tourism industry generated a record-breaking $66.2 billion in business sales impact in 2018, up 4.7 percent, according to the U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics.
Congratulations to Kevin Langston, GDEcD Deputy Commissioner, and his entire Tourism Division Team for a great year! Read More...
Committee & SIG News
Nominate a Future-Leader Today - Nominating Committee Update This year the Nominating Committee has the following goals in 2019:
Reflect GEDA’s diverse membership when selecting board members and officers considering gender, race, geography, and background/experience
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 FORMno later than May 10, 2019.
Professional Development - Scholarship-Grants Going to the GEDA 2019 Spring Workshop (SW19)? Apply today for a GEDA Professional Development grant. You can receive up to $600 in scholarship money as reimbursement for expenses associated with the SW19. It takes place at the Lodge at Callaway Gardens on May 15-17. Check out the preliminary program. Three scholarships are available.
For additional information on the Professional Development scholarships, look on the GEDA website, or contact Kevin Shea, President, GEDA at 404-962-4109.
Get involved in GEDA's Committees and SIGs to learn about projects and meet fellow members - visit your profile on GEDA.org to join.
