Chamber’s Pennington Named GEDA Executive Director
The Georgia Economic Developers Association has announced that current Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce Director of Economic Development Mike Pennington has been named the association’s new executive director.
Pennington will assume his new duties Sept. 10.
“I am very excited about this opportunity and look forward to working for such a fine organization,” Pennington said. “The most difficult part of this decision is having to leave this community and this Chamber of Commerce. Rome and Floyd County are blessed with wonderful leaders and a very talented staff at the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce. There is positive momentum with growth around the airport and the new strategic plan nearing completion.”
GEDA provides and promotes networking and professional development opportunities and shapes economic development public policy throughout Georgia. Currently, there are approximately 900 members of the organization, which is based in Atlanta.
Pennington has been a member of GEDA’s Board of Directors for the past three years, and has been an active member of the organization throughout his career. He has a decade of professional economic development experience at both the state and local level.
Pennington joined the Greater Rome Chamber in 2005, and in his role as Director of Economic Development, he has served as the primary point of contact for all economic development activities in Rome and Floyd County, representing the City of Rome, Floyd County, two development authorities and the Chamber of Commerce.
“Mike has certainly made a significant contribution while here,” said President and CEO Al Hodge of the Greater Rome Chamber. “Among other meaningful progress, he has been the primary point of contact for several expansions for existing employers, worked closely with Coosa Valley Technical College and Floyd County for the upcoming aviation and avionics programs, and for the next generation of economic development strategy through the Rome-Floyd 2020 comprehensive update. We wish him great success in an organization that is an important ally for our community’s economic development efforts.”
Prior to joining the Chamber of Commerce, Pennington was a project manager with the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade & Tourism and with Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, both in Atlanta. There, he assisted clients with site location decisions, developed leads for statewide economic development organizations and marketed the benefits of Georgia. He also initiated out-of-state marketing trips to call on previously identified prospects.
He earned a Bachelor’s of Science in International Business from Auburn University in 1995.
He is also a 2002 graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute and has completed the Georgia Academy for Economic Development and Leadership Rome programs, respectively.
Pennington, his wife Leigh, and their son Nate, currently live in Rome. They are active members at Trinity United Methodist Church, and Mike serves as the President of his neighborhood homeowner’s association.
The Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization established in 1910 working to promote prosperity in Rome and Floyd County for and through its business membership.
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