Ryan Waldrep to Serve as President of Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority
Monday, June 17th, 2019
The Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority board of directors has selected Ryan Waldrep to serve as the president of the economic development organization. His first day on the job will be Monday, June 17. The Chason Group was retained by the authority to lead the executive search.
Waldrep currently serves as assistant director, entrepreneur and small business and regional project manager, existing industry and regional recruitment for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, positions he has held since January 2015 and October 2007 respectively.
He is recognized by the International Economic Development Council as a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a rigorous program that acknowledges professionals from around the world who have achieved
the pinnacle of excellence in the economic development field.
“The development authority board, with input from local and statewide stakeholders, identified key character traits we were looking for in candidates early on,” according to Guy Cochran, chair of the development authority. “At the top of that list was an experienced community and economic development professional with proven results.
Excellent collaboration and relationship building skills; an aggressive, strong-willed individual with strength of character; and strong communications skills in terms of listening, writing, verbal and digital
were also a part of that weighting scale. Ryan fits these traits and has demonstrated his ability as a leader in the economic development field. He is a great fit for the position and our community.”
Waldrep is a graduate of Valdosta State University with a Master of Public Administration, Public Management degree and a bachelor’s degree in speech communications/public relations. Prior to working with the state’s economic development department, he served as president of the Telfair County Chamber of Commerce and Development Authority in McRae, Georgia. Waldrep was also an economic development and community development planner for the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Development Center in Eastman, Georgia from 2001 until 2005.
“The opportunity to lead the economic development initiatives of Dublin and Laurens County is beyond
exciting for me,” according to Waldrep. “I believe my experiences with the Georgia Department of
Economic Development have prepared me to focus on one community. The development authority is
recognized as one of the most progressive and forward thinking in the state. I look forward to becoming a part of the team to grow our economy and support the existing industries in the area.”
As a 2014 Leadership Georgia graduate, Waldrep and his wife served as a program chairs in 2019. He has been a member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association since 2003 and currently serves as chair of the entrepreneur and small business shared interest group. Waldrep and his family are active members of McRae First United Methodist Church.
Waldrep and his wife, Amanda, plan to move to Laurens County later this year. They have two sons, Adam and Ethan, 15 and 12 years old respectively.
Members of the authority are appointed by the City of Dublin’s mayor and council and the Laurens County Board of Commissioners. In addition to Cochran, other members of the authority include Scott Beasley, vice chairman; James Malone, treasurer; Jimmy Allgood; Roger Folsom, immediate past chair; Phillip Gay; and Keith Griffin.