4 Romans study development with fellow NW Ga. leaders
All say they have new insight into how communities grow.
New graduates of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Academy for Economy Development were admonished Tuesday by DCA executive Corinne Thornton.
“Go out into the world and do great things,” she said.
Community leaders from 14 counties across Northwest Georgia completed the four-month program and graduated during brief ceremonies at the Forum River Civic Center on Tuesday afternoon.
Floyd County participants Kristi Kent, director of communications for the city of Rome; Jeanne Krueger, membership director at the Rome Floyd Chamber; Brice Wood, community planner at the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission, and Alyson Lansdell, an instructor at the Floyd County College and Career Academy, each indicated the program had given them new insight into economic development.
“It gave us good, well-rounded knowledge of all the different things that impact our economy and economic development,” Kent said.
Krueger said she got a much better understanding of the cooperation and collaboration that has to take place to make the community successful.
“Meeting different folks who are doing the same thing in their communities was hugely important,” Krueger said.
“I felt it was a great opportunity to learn more about the various organizations that are a part of local government and the private sector and how they work together to plan for the future,” Wood said.
“I learned how important a role the school system plays to educate the future workforce,” said Lansdell.
DCA executive Patrick Vickers said the Georgia Academy for Economic Development has been providing training for future community leaders since 1994.
“It’s designed to train leaders in the school of economic development, how it is done in Georgia,” Vickers said. “It’s a primer in leadership and community development.”
Anyone interested in participating in the 2018 session of the academy is encouraged to contact Vickers at Patrick.Vickers@dca.ga.gov.