Village Workshop: Using Economic Development Resources to Grow your Startup

Join us for this Village Workshop: Using Economic Development Resources to Grow your Startup with Kimberly Allred and guests

About this event

Did you know that Georgia has been named the number 1 state to do business for 8 years in a row? During this workshop, you will learn more about how the renowned Economic Development ecosystem in Georgia works to support new and growing businesses in all industries throughout the region. From specialized research and analytics to strategic connections and incentives, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Power, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber will share how each organization provides diverse resources and leverages the region’s strengths to recruit and retain businesses at every stage.

A Mississippi native, Kimberly Allred graduated from The University of Mississippi in 2011 where she received a B.A. in International Studies. She also received her M.B.A. from The University of Mississippi in 2013.Kimberly currently serves as a Project Manager for Economic Development at the Metro Atlanta Chamber where she works to recruit new businesses to the Metro Atlanta area and help current businesses grow and expand within the regional footprint.In 2015, Kimberly found her niche in economic development while working as both a Retail Recruitment Coordinator and Project Manager with The Retail Coach, a national real estate advisory and recruitment firm where she managed over 50 client communities nationwide.Kimberly joined Roswell Inc in 2018 where she served as the organization’s Business Relations & Strategic Partnerships Manager where she worked with a wide range of companies providing assistance and support. She also cultivated and managed Roswell Inc’s relationships with state and regional partners and helped to identify and develop new partnership opportunities to strengthen Roswell’s overall business environment.Kimberly is involved in numerous community non-profit and professional organizations where she has held several leadership positions including The Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors, The Drake House Professional Advisory Council, the Greater North Fulton Chamber’s NextGen Committee, and the University of Mississippi Young Alumni Council. She was also a member of the City of Roswell’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan Committee and is a graduate of Leadership North Fulton and the Department of Community Affair’s Georgia Academy for Economic Development.

MaryBeth Flournoy is passionate about her work in growing the state of Georgia and bringing new opportunities to every citizen. As a business recruitment manager, MaryBeth (affectionally known by the team as MB) supports companies during the search for their new Georgia location. With a focus on information technology and manufacturing projects, MaryBeth facilitates the site selection process by identifying potential buildings, providing access to engineering products and services, market research and data evaluation, construction information, and anything else a company might need along the way. She also serves as a liaison between prospective companies and partner government agencies throughout the process.MaryBeth began her career with Georgia Power in 2008 as an intern in Tactical Marketing before moving to Community & Economic Development the following year as a research intern. After completing her undergraduate degree in International Relations, she was hired as a full-time employee with the research group in 2010. In 2014, she assumed the role of business recruitment manager. MaryBeth has supported the recruitment of companies such as Salesforce, Stitch Fix, PVH Corp, Coyote Logistics and Rivacold in locating operations in Georgia.MaryBeth is a board member of the French American Chamber of Commerce Southeast and an active member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association. She graduated from Agnes Scott College with an undergraduate degree in International Relations and just recently completed an Executive MBA in the Scheller College of Business at the Georgia Institute of Technology.A Midtown resident and millennial through and through, MaryBeth loves exploring Atlanta's art and live music scene. She also enjoys water and snow skiing, sailing, and lively Rummikub battles with her family. A self-proclaimed world-wanderer, there's nowhere MB won't travel- but her favorite destination (so far) is Morocco.

John Soper is a Project Manager on the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Global Commerce division. As a Project Manager, John works to recruit businesses that are considering Georgia for expansion or relocation in order to create jobs in communities around the state. In the first half of the 2022 fiscal year, the Global Commerce division supported 160 locations or expansions that resulted in the creation of 24,400 jobs and $9.8 billion investment. Before joining GDEcD, John worked for the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, a Public Service and Outreach unit of the University of Georgia in Athens. John holds a M.P.A. from the University of Georgia with a specialization in Local Government Administration and a B.A. from Davidson College in Political Science.