The Screven County Development Authority, located in neighboring Sylvania, Georgia, has hired Rachel Barnwell, currently the Manager of Economic Development Programs for the Development Authority of Bulloch County, as their new Executive Director.
"We are all very proud of Rachel, and we are confident that she will do a great job for our friends in Screven County. We will continue to benefit from the work she has done here in Bulloch County for many years," said Benji Thompson, CEO Development Authority of Bulloch County. "Rachel has been an amazing part of our team and a great college. I will miss her terribly, but will look forward to working with her often in the future."
Following Dorie Bacon
Barnwell will be following Dorie Bacon who served as Screven's Executive Director for over a decade. Bacon has accepted a position as Senior Project Manager, Region 12 for the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
Bulloch and Screven both fall in Bacon’s region. In this capacity, she can help mentor Barnwell and play a critical role in future economic development in the 12th district.
"The best way to leave a job you have loved is in the hands of someone who will lead the organization to new heights. Please join me in congratulating my friend and colleague Rachel Barnwell on joining Screven County Georgia Development Authority as the new Executive Director,” said Dorie Bacon.
Served Bulloch for 9 years
After graduating from Georgia Southern with a degree in sports management and a minor in business, Barnwell moved to Atlanta and worked for a sports and entertainment marketing agency.
She came back to Statesboro to accept a position with GS Athletics working beside Stuart Carter. Then nine years ago, she accepted a position with Bulloch's Development Authority.
“Getting into the economic development industry was the best decision I could have ever made,” said Barnwell. “I feel like I was mentored by the best person in the state to learn economic development from in Benjy Thompson. Benji is one of the most well respected economic development directors in Georgia”
Workforce development focus
Barnwell counts among some of her proudest accomplishments at the Development Authority was the establishment of a manufacturing day for 8th grade students in Bulloch schools. Understanding the challenges of workforce development, she knew they had to develop creative ways to expose local students to industry as a career path.
The program was a hit with the students and industry. More importantly, it was very informative for the teachers and counselors.
Barnwell has seen this program continue to expand now reaching down to 6th graders through high school seniors. The success of this program helped build excitement in the creation of a comprehensive, countywide workforce development plan.
“We have seen many success stories out of this workforce development program. The greatest satisfaction comes when you see a child in the 8th grade become excited about an opportunity in their hometown that they may have never known existed,” said Barnwell. “To follow that child through joint enrollment at OTC, that provides them with the certifications they need to be successful in a manufacturing career, while simultaneously graduating from high school. Then joining a rewarding workforce immediately upon graduation making more money than their parents, thus changing forever the trajectory of that child's life. That is why we come to work every day.”
Patience and Relationships
Barnwell admits that she is not a very patient person. She discovered very early in her position that had to change. They could work for years before seeing a project bear fruit. Aspen Aerogels is a perfect example of this. They began working with them in 2015 on a site across from Great Dane. After two years, they both walked away without a deal. Seven years later, Aspen is entering the market as one of the largest industrial projects to choose to Bulloch.
“Patience and Relationships no question played a huge role in our job as we saw with Aspen, '' said Barnwell. “You must have great local, regional and statewide relationships with political leaders and utility partners to see these types of deals mature. You have to win their trust equally as well.”
New Challenge
Even though Barnwell will only be 20 miles from her old job, the opportunity to lead the organization is very exciting to her.
“This is a wonderful new challenge. Leaving a supportive role to transition to the lead role provides me an exciting growth opportunity. But the timing couldn’t be more exciting. This is a pivotal moment with Aspen and Hyundia coming and bringing so many more opportunities to attract suppliers across the region,” said Barnwell. “Dorie and the Screven Development Authority have positioned Screven well for this growth. I look forward to coming along beside the board and local leadership to grow Screven County.”
Barnwell will begin her new role on Wednesday, September 7, 2022.
