Dr. Ivan Allen, president of Central Georgia Technical College, recently announced the selection of Andrea Griner as the College’s new vice president for Economic Development. She accepted the appointment following the retirement of Becky Lee who served in the position for 20 years.

“The College looks forward to Ms. Griner’s tenure as vice president for Economic Development and is supremely confident that she is the right person at the right time,” said Dr. Allen. “Given her demonstrated commitment to our region, her acclaimed service and noteworthy contributions to our business, industry, and military partners, her recognized and respected leadership, and her previous experiences in the field, the College is pleased that the search process yielded a candidate whose qualities so closely align with its needs.”

Most recently, Griner served as a Project Manager in the Economic Development department at CGTC.  In this position, she worked with a variety of businesses throughout the CGTC service delivery area to identify training needs and develop training programs to help meet the needs of a skilled workforce.

As Project Manager, one of Griner’s priorities was building and implementing a Miner’s Safety Training Program. This program was the first of its kind for the College and is sought after by companies across middle Georgia. Companies from as far away as the Atlanta area have taken advantage of this opportunity to train workers in proper safety procedures for mining-related jobs.

“It is truly a privilege to be selected to lead CGTC’s Office of Economic Development,” said Griner. “Through the education and training of a highly skilled workforce, our College plays a vital role in supporting existing and expanding businesses and in the recruitment of new industry to the region.  I look forward to expanding my role in serving the businesses, industries and communities of the central Georgia region and continuing to build upon the many accomplishments the CGTC Office of Economic Development.”

Prior to joining the CGTC family, Griner worked with the Houston County Development Authority for more than six years as Project Manager. She provided support for existing industries and assisted with the recruitment of new businesses.

“Attracting new employers to central Georgia is essential,” said Griner. “I am glad to continue my focus in this area. By securing more employment opportunities, we are helping to solidify our region’s economic health and provide more job opportunities for CGTC graduates.”

As the vice president for Economic Development, Griner will play a pivotal role in ensuring the region’s availability of skilled job opportunities by working closely with local development authorities, economic development commissions, and other local agencies to support the recruitment of new business and industries. She and her team will continue to focus on developing and delivering high quality customized training and continuing education programs in support of identified business and industry workforce needs.  

Griner is a graduate of the University of Georgia and is also a Certified Economic Developer, completing relevant coursework through the International Economic Development Council. She is a member of the Georgia Economic Developer’s Association, where she previously served as the chair of the Business Expansion and Retention Committee. She is actively involved with Chambers of Commerce and development authorities across the 11-countyservice area and serves on the Board of Directors for the Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce.
She is married to Wade Griner. They have four children and reside in Kathleen.