September 2026 Chair's Column

From Conversation to Action

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

After having the opportunity to welcome friends and colleagues to Savannah for our GEDA Annual Conference, I left the event energized—not simply by the quality of the program, but by the conversations taking place between sessions, over dinner, and throughout our time together. Those conversations are one of the things I value most about GEDA. We represent communities and organizations from every corner of Georgia, each with different opportunities and challenges, yet we share a common purpose: creating opportunities for the people and communities we serve. The relationships we build through GEDA allow us to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and occasionally challenge the way we think about our own communities. I want to personally thank everyone who joined us in Savannah, as well as the sponsors, speakers, staff, and volunteers whose hard work made this year's conference such a success.

Of course, the true value of a conference is not measured by what happens while we are together, but by what we do after we return home. My challenge to each of us is to turn those conversations into action. Follow up with the person you met in Savannah. Share an idea with your board or community leadership. Take another look at how your community is addressing workforce, infrastructure, housing, site readiness, or existing industry. And perhaps most importantly, continue reaching beyond city and county lines to strengthen the partnerships that have made Georgia so successful. Economic development has always been a team effort, and our ability to collaborate will become even more important as competition for investment and talent continues to grow. Savannah may have brought us together for three days, but what we do with the relationships, ideas, and renewed energy from those three days can help shape Georgia's economic future for years to come.

Stacy Watson
Director, Economic & Industrial Development
Georgia Ports Authority