Patrick Topping will be joining GEA in mid April as the association’s Director of Business Development. Pat will be working with Executive Director Mike McCurdy to expand awareness of GEA’s activities and services around the state and to continue to build the association’s membership. He’ll be responsible for developing new relationships with employers and with other associations and organizations that promote Georgia business.

For 22 years, Pat led the economic development program for the Macon Economic Development Commission, the private/public agency responsible for new business recruitment and existing business retention and growth for Macon-Bibb County. Earlier in his career, he served as President of the Cumming/Forsyth County and MIlledgeville/Baldwin County Chambers of Commerce. Pat is a past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Georgia Economic Developers Association and also served as Georgia’s State Director to the Southern Economic Development Council.

Pat has been active in state, regional, and national economic development associations, including the Georgia Foreign Trade Zone and the Korean SEUS Chamber of Commerce. He is a part-time faculty member at Georgia College and State University and at Middle Georgia State University, where he teaches courses in business and marketing.  Pat received his undergraduate degree from Georgia State University and holds an MBA from Georgia College and State University.