Facilitators

Tamara Brock previously served as the Region 1 Senior Project Manager for Existing Industry & Regional Recruitment with the Global Commerce Division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. In this capacity, she worked closely with local community leaders and provided a central point of contact to connect with state economic development resources and partners. Tamara’s primary role was recruiting new investment and job creation by supporting existing industry expansions and assisting in new locations for targeted suppliers and customers in the region.

Originally, from Acworth, Georgia, Tamara Brock moved to Cartersville in 2004 to work for the Cartersville Bartow County Chamber of Commerce. In 2007, she began her career as Key Accounts Manager with the City of Cartersville Electric System. At that time, she worked closely with the Cartersville Bartow County Department of Economic Development to attract large industrial customers to the community, in addition to working with the industrial customers that the utility currently served. Tamara later worked as an Assistant City Manager for Utilities and worked extensively with the gas, water and electric systems. In June of 2018, she was named the City Manager and served in that role before joining GDECD in September of 2020.

She has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Cartersville Bartow County Chamber of Commerce and chaired Manufacturer’s Appreciation Week for 12 years. Tamara is a 2015 graduate of Leadership Georgia and a graduate of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Georgia. Tamara and her husband, Josh, live in Cartersville with their daughters, Carder Elizabeth and Mary Collins.

Jennifer joined Georgia EMC in 2025 as Senior Strategist on the Community & Leadership Development team, bringing more than a decade of experience in community and economic development. She is passionate about empowering communities through authentic engagement and strategic initiatives and is excited to serve across west central and northeast Georgia.

Jennifer was Georgia’s first Community Heart & Soul Coordinator and is a graduate of Valdosta State University. She serves as a board member of the Thomaston-Upson Industrial Development Authority, Chairman of Thomaston Upson’s Community Heart & Soul Inc. and is an alumna of Leadership Georgia and the Georgia Academy of Economic Development.

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.

Eric supports the regional economic development in the West Region of Georgia, partnering with the state and local communities to support existing industry, grow leadership skills, and prepare communities for a growing Georgia. Eric possesses a diverse skill set including land development, project management, downtown development, complex problem-solving, fundraising, storytelling, retail development, and community marketing.

Eric's economic development experience spans more than two decades and four communities with various leadership roles (including Douglas and Polk Counties, and the city of Douglasville), bringing over 4,800 jobs and attracting more than $3.6 billion in private investments.

Before joining Georgia Power Economic Development Eric served as the President and CEO of the Greater Haralson Chamber of Commerce. Notable projects under his guidance include large-scale data centers, automotive manufacturing facilities, solar panel installations, warehouses, life science companies, and rail-served sites.

A graduate of the University of West Georgia, Eric actively participates in various community and professional boards and groups.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Eric is deeply connected to his family – his wife Jenny and their three children. Outside of work, he enjoys cycling, running, camping, and exploring the great outdoors.

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.

Ryan Waldrep's economic development experience, background, and knowledge make him a strong addition as he supports the communities in our Central region. His proven track record includes strategic planning, industrial park development, domestic and international recruitment, industry retention and expansion, as well as the development and support of small business and entrepreneurial ecosystem programs.

Ryan previously served as the President of the Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority. His career in economic development spans more than two decades in the Central Region. He has previously held positions as the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Region 9 Project Manager, President of the Telfair County Chamber of Commerce and Development Authority, and economic development planner for the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission.

Additionally, Ryan served as the Assistant Director of GDEcD’s Entrepreneur and Small Business program, where he led the Georgia Small Business Rock Stars program that highlights innovative small businesses in Georgia.

Ryan earned his Certification in Economic Development through the International Economic Development Council in 2006 and became an Economic Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council in 2012. He is a member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association and the International Economic Development Council. Ryan is also a graduate of Leadership Georgia and Leadership Telfair County.

A native of McRae, Georgia, Ryan holds degrees in Public Relations and Public Management from Valdosta State University. He and his wife Amanda live in Dublin with their two sons. Ryan is an avid but average golfer, and is always on the search for the perfect brisket rub.

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.