Our Team

Who We Are

Connect with the people who know every square mile of Georgia and have the in-depth experience to make things happen. We’re here to help companies and communities envision what’s possible.

Leadership

Pat Merritt

Vice President, Community & Economic Development

404-909-1564

pat.merritt@georgiaemc.com

Pat Merritt

Pat has dedicated her career to community and economic development in Georgia. While working in community development for Oglethorpe Power Corporation, she launched a regional economic development leadership training academy. For more than 30 years, Pat has inspired and supported community leaders as they create greater prosperity across the state.

Economic Development

Bradley Harris

Manager | Economic Development

404-909-1566

bradley.harris@georgiaemc.com

Bradley Harris

A native of Conyers, Bradley has 20+ years experience helping companies locate in the state. A graduate of The Citadel, he taught high school before taking a position as project manager with the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade & Tourism. Along with leading our economic development team, Bradley is active in the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC), the Retail Industry Leader’s Association (RILA), and the Georgia Economic Development Association (GEDA).

Lauren Price

Senior Project Manager

770-315-9184

lauren.price@georgiaemc.com

Lauren Price

A Georgia native, Lauren works with retailers, restaurants, and community leaders as Georgia EMC’s retail specialist. Lauren earned a business degree from Ole Miss and her MBA at Auburn. After working for a natural gas company and two Georgia electric cooperatives, Lauren joined the economic development team, where her business development skills benefit companies and communities.

Kasey Lee Smith

Senior Project Manager

678-882-5865

kasey.smith@georgiaemc.com

Kasey Lee Smith

Kasey comes to us from the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Global Commerce Team where he served as a Senior Project Manager. In his role at GDEcD, Kasey worked with state, regional and community leaders, site selection consultants, and utility partners to attract business expansions and new businesses to Georgia. Prior to joining GDEcD, he served as Corporal, Georgia State Patrol, Governor’s Protection Detail. Kasey has a Bachelor of Science, Sociology, from Kennesaw State University.

Community & Leadership Development

Jenny Robbins

Manager | Community & Leadership Development

912-599-0617

jenny.robbins@georgiaemc.com

Jenny Robbins

Living in and serving the southern part of Georgia, Jenny is a brainstormer who is passionate about helping communities succeed on behalf of the electric co-ops. Jenny joined Georgia EMC in 2014 and has nearly 30 years of experience in community and economic development. Her expertise includes facilitation, downtown development, rural economic development, and tourism development. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Communications with an emphasis on Organizational Communications from Valdosta State University.

Jenny’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Strategic · Connectedness · Adaptability · Positivity · Communications

Carrie Barnes

Senior Strategist

404-844-9072

carrie.barnes@georgiaemc.com

Carrie Barnes

Serving the northern part of the state, Carrie is an experienced facilitator specializing in strategic planning and organizational development. Before joining Georgia EMC in 2014, she worked in community and economic development with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Appalachian Regional Commission, and Northwest Georgia Regional Commission. After graduating from Mercer University with an Environmental Studies degree, Carrie earned her Master’s in City and Regional Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Carrie’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Empathy · Positivity · Developer · Relator · Harmony

Araina Reaves

Strategist

404-640-0173

araina.reaves@georgiaemc.com

Araina Reaves

Serving the central part of the state, Araina is a dynamic facilitator and presenter specializing in CliftonStrengths® coaching and leadership development. Before joining Georgia EMC in 2016, she gained extensive leadership, community, and economic development experience as a chamber of commerce director. Araina is a Georgia Southern University graduate with a degree in Multimedia Communications and is certified by the Community Development Council as a Professional Community and Economic Developer.

Site Development

Shaun Dodson

Manager | Site Development

770-601-7906

shaun.dodson@georgiaemc.com

Shaun Dodson

Shaun, a licensed landscape architect, serves as the head of the Site Development team at Georgia EMC. In this role, he oversees the delivery of comprehensive site analysis, design, mapping, and planning services to companies, site selectors, and community developers. Shaun is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia, holding a degree in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design. His professional journey includes prior experience as a landscape architect and project manager in the private sector before joining Georgia EMC in 2008.

Tim Bono

Landscape Architect

770-570-7656

tim.bono@georgiaemc.com

Tim Bono

Bringing 16+ years experience as a project manager for prominent architecture and engineering firms in the Pacific Northwest, Tim returned home to join Georgia EMC in early 2022. He is a licensed landscape architect and accredited Leader in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) professional, which is a green building program used worldwide. Tim earned his bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design from the University of Georgia. He also holds a master’s in Theology from Western Seminary.

That Htoo

Research Analyst

919-345-5727

that.htoo@georgiaemc.com

That Htoo

Hailing from North Carolina, That recently joined our team as a Research Analyst after completing his Master of Public Affairs from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). Additionally, he holds an undergraduate degree in Economics. Before joining our team, That served as a Housing Specialist for Orange County (N.C.) Housing and Community Development, as a Research Analyst Intern for the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, and as a graduate Research Assistant for the UNCG Political Science Department.

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