MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — Matt Poyner, who has served as executive director of The Development Authority of Milledgeville and Baldwin County for the past six years, is leaving for a new job in Savannah.

The 39-year-old Poyner announced earlier this week to DAMBC board members that he is resigning from his position for a vice president position with the Savannah Economic Development Authority, according to a press release sent out Thursday afternoon.

Poyner informed DAMBC board members of his decision to leave during an executive session of the board’s regular monthly meeting Monday morning.

“Milledgeville and Baldwin County have been very kind and supportive to me over the past six years,” Poyner said in the press release. “This community will always hold a special place in my heart. The (Savannah Economic Development Authority) SEDA position will allow me an opportunity to grow professionally and personally in my economic development career.”

Trip Tollison, who serves as president and chief executive officer of the Savannah Economic Development Authority said Poyner will serve as vice president of business development and will assume the role of leading business recruitment initiatives in Savannah beginning in mid-October.

The search to fill the position of vice president of business development was conducted by The  Chason Group, a Georgia-based executive search firm that specializes in economic development, chambers of commerce, foundations, and other non-profit organizations.

Poyner, a 2003 graduate of the University of Georgia, delivered on several strategies that were set forth by the development authority over the past six years, according to Ed Walker, who serves as chairman of The Development Authority of Milledgeville and Baldwin County.

While serving as executive director, Poyner worked with officials at Mohawk and Triumph Aerostructure on expansion projects at their facilities, Walker said.

“He also was a leader in many new business announcements, including Chem-Tex, and Japan-based StraPack,” Walker said. “He was a key player in developing products for industrial sites for our community, including a 1,643-acre rail-served Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) tract, and coordinating GRAD certification for two additional industrial sites in the community. Matt’s tireless efforts facilitated great opportunities for industrial growth within our community.”

Poyner remains optimistic about the possibility of one or more large companies coming to the mega industrial park site and bringing jobs to the local area in the future.

“It’s going to happen and I think soon,” Poyner. “That’s a very premier spot in Georgia.” 

Walker said DAMBC board members “did a great job of selecting Matt six years ago. As we backfill Matt, our goal is to take a strategic approach to identify the right fit for this community in terms of a professional economic developer. Over the next few weeks, members of the authority will be meeting to discuss our methodology. We will be transparent in our search and seek feedback from community stakeholders during the process. The executive director’s position is one of the most important responsibilities in our community.”

Poyner said even though he enjoyed working in Milledgeville and Baldwin County for the past half-dozen years, he will now walk to a different beat in Savannah.

“Savannah is a very multi-active area,” Poyner told The Union-Recorder in a telephone interview Thursday afternoon. “And the Savannah Economic Development Authority is right there with them.”

Poyner said the Savannah job, which he will assume on Oct. 8, is one of those wonderful job opportunities that he simply couldn’t pass up.

“It’s one of the best jobs in the state in terms of economic development,” Poyner said. “This is going to be a huge boost for my career and I’m really looking forward to it.”