PROMOTING VALDOSTA

At the groundbreaking for Arglass for its first new glass plant in America in over a generation were Brad Folsom, VLCDA Board Member, José M. Ruiz Luque, CFO, Arglass, Jerry Jennett, VLCDA Board Member, Andrea Schruijer, VLCDA Executive Director, Terri Lupo, VLCDA Board Chairwoman, José de Diego Arozamena, Founder & CEO, Arglass, Brian P. Kemp, Governor, State of Georgia, Koji Yamamura, NYG Chairman, and CEO, Tom Call, VLCDA Board Member, John Gayle, Former Mayor, City of Valdosta, Pope Langdale, Bill Langdale.

Andrea Schruijer To Lead Georgia Economic Developers Association

COMPILED BY JOHN RIDDLE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEGHAN BARWICK

The Executive Director of the ValdostaLowndes Development Authority, Andrea Schruijer, will serve as the 2021 Chair of the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA). She will transition from being the current First ViceChair to her new role in January 2021. GEDA is an association of economic development professionals with over 700 members, which develops networking and professional development opportunities for its members and advocates public policies that promote quality job creation and sustainable economic development throughout the state. It has been Georgia's leading economic development organization for 57 years. Andrea has been leading the Valdosta-Lowndes Development Authority for nine years. She began her economic development career at the Albany Dougherty Economic Development Authority, where she served as Senior Vice President for four years. Before that, Andrea had a career in hospitality with The RitzCarlton in New Orleans and Amelia Island. She is a graduate of Georgia Southern University. “We are delighted Andrea has been given the opportunity to serve as the 2021 chair for the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA)”, said Terri Lupo, chairwoman of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority Board of Directors. “The state is the driving force when it comes to economic development, so having Andrea serve in this role will allow her opportunities to network with peers while continuing to build relationships with project managers and top-

level leadership at the state level.” The Valdosta-Lowndes Development Authority is an organization that oversees industrial and economic development in Valdosta and Lowndes County by striving to create an environment to attract new industry and promote the growth of existing industry to drive job creation and capital investment. In 2019, the authority announced the creation of 389 new jobs with a total capital investment of $181,050,000 in the community from two new industries, including Arglass Yamamura and Better Way Products. Site Selection Magazine named Valdosta as one of the country's top 10 metro areas with the most economic development projects last year.

"I am thrilled to be chosen as chairwoman of the Georgia Economic Developers Association, and I am looking forward to working with economic developers across the state to continue to make Georgia the number one state to do business," said Andrea Schruijer.

Andrea resides in Valdosta with her husband, Raymond. They are the proud parents of three children, Justin, Emma, and Willem.

Andrea Schruijer, Executive Director of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority and 2021 Chair of the Georgia Economic Developer’s Association.

Site Selection Magazine named Valdosta as one of the country’s top 10 metro areas with the most economic development projects for 2019.