New Faculty Tour: UGA and Economic Prosperity

Written by Mara Register, public service assistant in governmental training, education and development at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

The first full day of the New Faculty Tour was packed with community visits, presentations and collaborations that elevated my pride in my home state of Georgia. The morning began at Jaemor Farms in Alto, GA with an energetic presentation from Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black as he explained the significant contribution agriculture makes to the growing economy of our state. And then, from a vibrant family farm in Northeast Georgia, we traveled to the capital city of the South, Atlanta.

In Atlanta, we had the opportunity to visit the Centergy Center in Midtown for an impressive overview of the facility by key Georgia Power staff. This state-of-the-art economic recruitment center truly serves as the heart of past, present and future business recruitment and retention efforts in Georgia. It was an honor to hear from the new Georgia Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Gretchen Corbin. Numerous times she recognized the important role the Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG) plays in ensuring our local Georgia communities are prepared for economic recruitment and prosperity through our leadership training of elected officials and staff.

After lunch, CVIOG's Director Laura Meadows greeted us at the Capitol. Needless to say, I was so proud of Laura's incredible overview of CVIOG and the role we play in leadership training, education and technical assistance. She shared how our efforts help make government work better for the people of Georgia. We then heard from Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and Secretary of State Brian Kemp. Our visit to the Capitol ended with a brief tour of this grand symbol of government and democracy for our state.

Following a visit to the King Memorial site and a visit to the Terry College of Business and UGA Alumni Office in Atlanta, we had a wonderful dinner and networking opportunity with members of the Consular Corps, located in Atlanta. It was truly an impressive evening dining with dignitaries from Canada, France, Haiti, India, Great Britain and South Korea. Visiting with this group was like having a window into the world right at your dinner table.

At the end of this action-packed day, I have a much greater appreciation for the role UGA plays in the economic vitality of our state as it is positioned nationally and globally. I also gained a much greater understanding of our work at CVIOG and the significant role we play every day in our training and educational efforts setting the stage for effective leaders today and in the future.