"Marketing the state of Georgia affords me the opportunity to support growth and bring jobs to my home state. We are helping to make a difference in the lives of Georgians."
Ashley Varnum has joined the Business Recruitment team for Georgia Power Community and Economic Development.
Prior to joining us, Ashley was the Division Director for the Global Commerce Division with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). Her primary focuses supporting all industry specific recruitment teams and the existing industry and regional recruitment team while assisting the Deputy Commissioner in leading the division. Previously she served as the ADAM (Automotive, Defense Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing) Team Director and a Senior Project Manager on the ADAM team and Life Sciences and Corporate Solutions team.
During her time at GDEcD, Varnum has supported many companies including GE Digital, Honeywell International, ThyssenKrupp, Purple Mattress, Boston Consulting Group, Switch, Flexport, and MasterBrand Cabinets to help support the creation of thousands of new jobs in Georgia and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment.
Ashley also served as the Executive Director of Fitzgerald - Ben Hill County Development Authority and a Project Manager for the Liberty County Development Authority. Throughout her career, she has assisted domestic and international businesses in both industrial and office investments.
Varnum is an active member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association and previously served on the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) Alumni Board.
Ashley earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Rural Studies focused in Business and Economic Development from ABAC (Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College) in Tifton, Georgia. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, husband, Ben, and their dog, Charlie.