Melissa ‘Missy’ Kendrick, Executive Director of the Barnesville-Lamar County Industrial Development Authority, has been elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA). Missy was elected on Sept. 20 at business meeting of the organization’s Annual Conference and will officially take office in January 2015. Once taking office, she will move progressively through the other officer positions, becoming President in 2018. She is currently serving as the organization’s Chair of the Membership Services Committee, and is responsible for GEDA’s Special Service Awards to be given out in November. In the past, she has served as a member of the board, as Chair of the Sponsorship Committee and as a member of numerous other committees. Kendrick has worked in the Chamber/Economic Development field since 1992 in several middle Georgia counties, including Meriwether, Fayette, Pike and Lamar. Missy was honored by GEDA in 2013 as its Committee Member of the Year and was given a plaque by Governor Nathan Deal. Kendrick is a graduate of Institute for Organizational Management, Economic Development Institute, and NDC’s Economic Development Finance Program. Other officers elected at the meeting include: Tim Evans, Chair, and Vice President, Economic Development, Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce; Greg Wright, First Vice Chair, and President, Coweta County Development Authority; Anna Chafin, Second Vice Chair, and Chief Executive Officer, Development Authority of Bryan County; and Angie Gheesling, Immediate Past Chair, and Executive Director, Houston County Development Authority. The speakers, topics and events of the conference, which took place Sept. 17-19 at the Hyatt-Regency in Savannah, were specially chosen to highlight leadership development for Georgia economic developers. More than 425 developers attended this year’s conference, titled ‘Gateway to Greatness.’ Sessions included a look at workforce development, re-shoring opportunities for communities of all sizes, the upcoming 2014 elections as seen by Prof. Charles Bullock of the University of Georgia and an economic analysis from Dr. Roger Tutterow of Kennesaw State University. The keynote speaker for this year’s conference was Captain Alan Price, who was Delta’s chief pilot on 9/11. He shared stories from his aviation career and his lessons on leadership, especially in times of crisis.
Be First to Comment