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Fifteen Georgia professionals recently earned Georgia Certified Economic Developer certification through the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

The Georgia Certified Economic Developer (GCED) program offers economic development professionals Georgia-specific training that is directly applicable to their communities’ economic success.

To earn certification, participants complete a total of 60 hours of course work and a capstone portfolio project to receive their GCED certification. Coursework includes practical, skills-based training and offers two specialty tracks to choose from: Industry Knowledge or Leadership Development. This year’s GCED graduates were honored at the Georgia Economic Development Association Spring Workshop on St. Simons Island.

2024 Georgia Certified Economic Developer Graduates:

Amy Carter, Special Assistant to the President, Southern Regional Technical College

Rosanna Cruz-Bibb, Hart County Archway Professional, UGA Archway Partnership

Naceo Denney, Area Manager, Georgia Power Company

Shaun Dodson, Manager, Site Development, Community & Economic Development, Georgia EMC

David DuBois, Greene County Economic Development

Peyton Fuller, Senior Accountant, Finance Department, Bulloch County Board of Commissioners

Quentin Jackson, Accounting Analyst, City of Suwanee

Anita Jupin, Economic Development Manager, City of Milton

Ben McDaniel, Economic Development Director, Barrow-Braselton Joint Economic Development Authority

Kiakala Ntemo, Economic Development Manager, City of Brunswick

Alan Peterson, Assistant Director, Ecosystems Development, Invest Atlanta

Tonya Powers, Executive Director, Franklin County Industrial Building Authority

Cindy Rivers McGraw, Executive Director, Chattooga Chamber

John Soper, Georgia Department of Economic Development

Haley Watson, Jones County Development Authority