Facilitators

Shar’ron W. Russell is the Community and Economic Development manager for the Metro South region.  In this role, she supports local communities through leadership development, strategic planning, existing industry retention and expansions as well as attracting new companies considering relocation to the area.  Shar’ron is an advocate for economic growth and leverages her collaborative leadership style to ensure our communities as well as the citizens are prepared to prosper.

Shar’ron holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix as well as a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  Over the course of her 23 years with Georgia Power Company, she has been exposed to numerous aspects of the electric utility industry to include marketing and sales, transmission and distribution system design, construction, maintenance, and planning.

In addition to her professional experience, Shar’ron is passionate about education and improving the lives of women, children, and youth.  She is a graduate of both Leadership Clayton and LEAD Atlanta.  Shar’ron has served on the board of directors for the Development Authority of Clayton County as well as the Vice-Chair for the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Executive Council.  She is a graduate of the YWCA of Greater Atlanta Georgia Women’s Policy Institute (GWPI) training program which empowers women to get involved in all aspects of the policy change process.  Currently, Shar’ron is secretary for the Create Your Dreams board of directors; a non-profit dedicated to helping students break the cycle of generational poverty thru education and hard work.  Overall, she is willing to serve and seeks positive change for the betterment of our communities.

Although born in Bangkok, Thailand, Shar’ron W. Russell is a native of Birmingham, AL.  She currently resides in Fayetteville, GA with her husband David and, daughter Morgan.  She enjoys reading, shopping and listening to music.

Carrie Barnes serves as a Senior Community Development Consultant with Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (Georgia EMC), which is the statewide trade association representing Georgia's 41 electric membership cooperatives (Co-ops), Oglethorpe Power Corporation, Georgia Transmission Corporation and Georgia System Operations Corporation. Co-ops are member-owned, not-for-profit utilities that serve 4.4 million Georgians, nearly half the state's population, across 73 percent of Georgia's land area with the largest distribution network in the state.

The Community Development Team at Georgia EMC offers six primary services for non-profit organizations related to community and economic development on behalf of member Co-ops:

• Professional Facilitation
• Community Planning
• Leadership Development
• Community Development Orientation Program (CEDOP©)
• CliftonStrengths© Coaching
• Georgia Academy for Economic Development

Carrie is an experienced facilitator, Gallup Certified CliftonStrengths® coach, and certified Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP). She has worked with Georgia EMC since 2014 and specializes in community and organizational planning.

Carrie began her career in Community and Economic Development in 2010 with the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission. She then went on to work with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) in the Office of Downtown Development and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). A native of Tampa, Florida, Carrie attended Mercer University and completed her Masters in City and Regional Planning (MCRP) with a focus on Economic Development at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Carrie lives in Cartersville, Georgia with her husband and two daughters. When not working, you can usually find Carrie cooking up a new recipe in the kitchen or snuggling with her family on the couch.

As Georgia Power’s community and economic development manager in Coastal Region, Mr. Coley supports local communities through leadership development, strategic planning, existing industry retention and expansions, and with new companies considering an expansion or relocation to the area.

Jason began his career at Georgia Power in 1994. He worked in many areas of the
company, including marketing, customer service, local management and engineering, before joining the Community & Economic Development team in 2015.

He has held leadership positions on several community boards, including Leadership Southeast Georgia, Coastal WorkSource Board and Coastal Regional Commission, and is a member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association.

Jason earned a bachelor’s of Business Administration from Brenau University at Kingsbay. In his free time, Jason enjoys fishing, hunting and golf with his two boys.

In Central Georgia, Mickey Daniell works to bring new jobs and investment through his work as the Community and Economic Development manager for the region. Through leadership development, strategic planning, and job creation strategy, Mickey supports growth and success in each of the communities in his region. His support extends to prospective new businesses to the area, and to existing companies who are ready to expand.

Mr. Daniell joined Georgia Power in 2011 having served as a science teacher in Houston and Bibb counties where he taught AP Physics and served as Co-Director of the Westside High School Engineering Magnet Program, respectively. At Georgia Power, he has served in several capacities, including Education Manager in Education and Workforce Development, Education Team Supervisor, and Energy Efficiency Education Coordinator in Central Region. Mickey is a graduate of Georgia College where he received Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science degrees in Education.

A native of Laurens County, Georgia, Mickey currently lives in Macon with his wife, Selisa, and their sons Eli and Evan. In the community, he serves as a board member of Georgia Youth Science Technology Centers, Inc., and regularly volunteers to coach youth sports.

Elyse is the Northwest Georgia Manager of Community Development for Georgia Power. In her role, she assists communities with new business prospects, existing industry expansions, strategic planning, marketing, and real estate development for the 16 counties in the northwest corner of Georgia. Prior to joining the Georgia Power Company in 2014, Elyse served as President/CEO of chambers of commerce and economic development organization in Georgia and North Carolina and in those positions helped local community leaders create/retain thousands of jobs.

Elyse is a native of Polk County, Georgia and a graduate of Rockmart High School. She graduated from Shorter University with an Associate in Science in Business degree. Elyse became a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) in 2004 and is s a graduate of the United States Chamber Southeast Institute for Organization Management where she served as chair of the board and instructor. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute, Center for Leadership Development, Leadership Georgia (1996), Leadership North Carolina (2003) and numerous local leadership development programs. Elyse serves on the Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy Board. She is a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow.

Elyse and her husband, Bill, live in Bartow County and have five adult children and five grandchildren. Elyse enjoys spending time with family, archery hunting, cooking, and interior decorating.

Matt serves as Georgia Power’s Community and Economic Development manager in the East Region, covering Milledgeville to Augusta. In this role, he supports local communities and companies as they navigate the site selection and expansion process. Over his twenty-year career, he's worked with companies as they select new locations for manufacturing sites, corporate headquarters and back-office operations. He 2010, he located Georgia’s largest film studio, Pinewood Atlanta Studios, where many Marvel blockbuster films have been made.

Matt joined the Georgia Power team in 2014, having formerly served as the lead local economic development official in Fayette County, Ga, Athens-Clarke County, Ga, and Oconee County, Ga. Matt has twice won the Economic Development Deal of the Year award from the Georgia Economic Developer’s Association for the recruitment of NCR to Georgia and for the recruitment of Pinewood Studios.  Prior to his work in economic development, he was planning director for Oconee County, GA.

Matt is a member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association and the International Economic Development Council. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture with a focus on community design and a Certificate in Local Government Management from the University of Georgia. He has participated, both as a member and an instructor, in numerous community leadership programs. A native of Georgia, Matt and his wife, Allison, live in the Augusta area with their three children.

In Georgia's West Region you'll find Jim serving as community and economic development manager for Georgia Power. He supports growth in the local communities through leadership development, strategic planning, existing industry retention and expansions, and with new companies considering an expansion or relocation to the area. Jim also works with the Georgia Academy for Economic Development and provides economic development and leadership training.

Jim's career with Georgia Power began in 1982. He has worked in many areas of the company, including region operations, finance, corporate services, and legislative affairs. Jim earned a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Georgia and a Master’s degree in Finance from Georgia State University. He also is a certified Economic Development Finance Professional by the National Development Council. Jim serves on the board of directors of the Georgia Agribusiness Council and is a member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association.

Jim and his wife Lynn have three children and live in Tifton, Georgia, where they are members of the First United Methodist Church. Jim is an active volunteer with Ruth’s Cottage Women’s Shelter of South Georgia and serves as Tournament Director for the organization’s fundraising events.

As Georgia Power’s community and economic development manager in the South Region, Mr. Purvis supports local communities through leadership development, strategic planning, existing industry retention and expansions, and with new companies considering an expansion or relocation to the area. He also works with the Georgia Academy for Economic Development and provides economic development and leadership training.

Mr. Purvis joined the Georgia Power team in 2011, having formerly served as a Regional Representative for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA). In that role he worked with local governments, development authorities, chambers of commerce and other economic development organizations. Scott was also involved with the Georgia Academy for Economic Development, Adult Community Leadership Programs, and Downtown Development assistance. Prior to his work with DCA, Scott worked as a management consultant with the Southwest Georgia Regional Development Center, a circuit rider/city and county administrator for the city of Colquitt and Miller County, and city manager for Hahira.

Scott is a member of the Georgia Economic Developer Association. He holds an Associate degree in Science from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, a Bachelor of Political Science with a minor in History from the University of Georgia, and a Masters of Public Administration from Valdosta State University.

A native of Tift County, Georgia, Scott currently lives in Valdosta with his wife, Nancy and their daughter. His hobbies include hunting, gardening, and enjoying University of Georgia football.

Araina Reaves serves as a Community Development Consultant with Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (Georgia EMC), which is the statewide trade association representing Georgia's 41 electric membership cooperatives (Co-ops), Oglethorpe Power Corporation, Georgia Transmission Corporation and Georgia System Operations Corporation. Co-ops are member-owned, not-for-profit utilities that serve 4.4 million Georgians, nearly half the state's population, across 73 percent of Georgia's land area with the largest distribution network in the state.

The Community Development Team at Georgia EMC offers six primary services for non-profit organizations related to community and economic development on behalf of member Co-ops:

• Professional Facilitation
• Community Planning
• Leadership Development
• Community Development Orientation Program (CEDOP©)

• CliftonStrengths© Coaching
• Georgia Academy for Economic Development

Araina is a Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED), an experienced facilitator, a Gallup Certified CliftonStrengths© coach and Builder10 trained. She has worked with Georgia EMC since 2016 and specializes in Strengths coaching and leadership development.

Araina’s career in community and economic development began when she served as the Chamber Director and Welcome Center Manager/Director of Tourism at the Eastman-Dodge County Chamber of Commerce. Araina obtained a Bachelor of Science in Multimedia Communications from Georgia Southern University. She lives in Dublin, Georgia, with her husband Michael and their two crazy rescue pups, Liam and Ellie. When not working, you will likely find Araina in the mountains hunting waterfalls or starting another home improvement project that never gets finished.

Jenny Robbins serves as Manager of Community Development with Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (Georgia EMC), which is the statewide trade association representing Georgia's 41 electric membership cooperatives (Co-ops), Oglethorpe Power Corporation, Georgia Transmission Corporation and Georgia System Operations Corporation. Co-ops are member-owned, not-for-profit utilities that serve 4.4 million Georgians, nearly half the state's population, across 73 percent of Georgia's land area with the largest distribution network in the state.

The Community Development Team at Georgia EMC offers six primary services for non-profit organizations related to community and economic development on behalf of member Co-ops:

• Professional Facilitation
• Community Planning
• Leadership Development
• Community Development Orientation Program (CEDOP©)
• CliftonStrengths© Coaching
• The Georgia Academy for Economic Development

Jenny has more than 20 years of experience in community and economic development as the manager of the Homerville Main Street program, a UGA Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Science Agent, and with the Department of Family and Children Services. Since joining Georgia EMC in 2014, she has obtained certifications as a Leadership Strategies Professional Facilitator, a Gallup CliftonStrengths© Coach, and an Orton Family Foundation Community Heart & Soul© Coach.

Jenny is a lifelong resident of Georgia who is passionate about helping communities build vibrant economies by growing cooperative leaders, improving the quality of life, and telling their unique story. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Communications from Valdosta State University, and lives happily in Homerville with her husband and three children. When not working Jenny loves to do home improvement projects and yoga.

Rope Roberts has worked as Georgia Power’s Community and Economic Development Manager in Northeast Georgia since 1995. In this role, he supports local communities through leadership development, strategic planning, existing industry retention and expansions, and the recruitment of new companies to the area.

Rope currently serves on the Business Advisory Council of the University of North Georgia and the North Georgia Technical College Board of Directors. He is an instructor in the Georgia Academy for Economic Development and a member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association.

He lives in Clarkesville with his wife, Anne, a college professor in nursing and yoga instructor. They have seven grown children, four of whom were adopted internationally. Rope’s hobbies include reading, hiking, strength building, photography, and yoga.