"Serving the Metro South region is deeply meaningful to me because it represents both Georgia’s rich legacy and its future potential. I’m passionate about helping connect this region's strengths to new investment, quality jobs, and long-term vitality, ensuring that as every part of our state has the opportunity to grow and thrive."
Mia Pressley
Email: mdpressl@southernco.com
Mia Pressley serves as the Regional Economic Development Manager for Georgia Power’s Metro South Region. In this role, Mia works with communities across metro Atlanta’s southern communities to advance strategic planning, foster public-private partnerships, and lead industry recruitment and retention efforts that drive job creation and capital investment throughout the region.
Mia collaborates with local leaders, development authorities, and Georgia Power partners to strengthen economic preparedness, support business retention and expansion, and champion innovative workforce strategies that promote long-term growth and community vitality in the Metro South Region.
Mia has more than 18 years of experience in workforce and economic development, community and governmental affairs, and corporate and public partnerships. Most recently, she served as Strategic Business Operations/Workforce Development Coordinator at Georgia Power, where she led statewide workforce initiatives and partnerships that strengthened Georgia’s talent pipeline. Her career also includes leadership roles with the Atlanta Regional Commission, where she managed external affairs and corporate engagement with major employers such as Georgia Power, Delta Air Lines, Uber, and Norfolk Southern, as well as with DeKalb County Government, where she directed workforce training programs and served as the Senior Division HR Manager for Retention and Recruitment.
Mia is a graduate of Agnes Scott College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Political Science. She holds certifications in Project Management and Global Career Development Facilitation and serves on multiple boards and committees focused on advancing community prosperity and business competitiveness. Mia is a member of the Georgia Economic Developer’s Association (GEDA).
About the Metro South Region
#1
World's Busiest Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport
700+
Acres of Studios, Office, & Backlots
at Trilith Studios in Fayette County
Strategic Location & Connectivity
- Strategic Location: Located south of the city of Atlanta, the Metro South region includes both suburban and rural counties in Metro Atlanta.
- Interstate Access: Interstates 75 and 85 provide direct access from the Metro South region to the cities of Atlanta, Columbus, and Macon.
- Air Connectivity: The world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, provides connection to 154 domestic and 78 international non-stop destinations.
Thriving Economy & Workforce
- Industry Leaders: Delta TechOps, the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) division of Delta Air Lines, is recognized as the largest airline MRO in North America and is the Metro South's largest employer with 2,250 employees.
- Clayton State University: Located in Clayton County, Clayton State University's mission is social mobility. CSU has 41 undergraduate, 12 graduate, and 7 associate degree programs.
- Transportation & Warehousing: Transportation and Warehousing is the region's largest industry with over 74,000 jobs. Major companies benefit from the region's strategic interstate location, including Fresh Express, Luxottica, and JC Penney.
Next Generation Workforce
- WorkUP Coweta: WorkUP Coweta is a free, 30-hour training program that helps Coweta County residents gain real-world skills, build confidence, and connect with employers.
- Southern Crescent Tech Registered Apprenticeship Program: Southern Crescent's Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) stands as a robust and comprehensive training model designed to assist employers in the transformation and cultivation of entry-level employees into highly skilled professionals.
- Central Education Center (CEC): The CEC started in Coweta County almost 25 years ago with a vision and became the model for Georgia’s college and career academies. It allows high schools to offer an ever-widening range of accelerated, dual-enrollment opportunities in technical education.
Quality of Life
- Home to U.S. Soccer: The Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center, located in Fayette County, stands alone as the home for soccer in America. Set to open in 2026, the National Training Center is a world-class facility built for the entire soccer community
- A Neighborhood Focused on Wellbeing: The community of Serenbe, located in South Fulton, is set among acres of preserved forests and meadows with miles of nature trails that connect homes and restaurants with arts and businesses.
- A Transformational Project: Aerotropolis Atlanta is a new vision of metro Atlanta’s southside. The goal is to transform the airport vicinity into a world-class Aerotropolis by stimulating investment and strengthening public coordination for the benefit of all Aerotropolis Atlanta stakeholders.