Leadership Southeast Georgia participants gathered in Bulloch, Effingham and Screven counties May 7-8 for the fourth session of the regional leadership program, focusing on workforce development, innovation and the partnerships that drive economic resilience across Southeast Georgia.

The two-day session immersed participants in workforce pipelines, entrepreneurial initiatives and agribusiness ecosystems shaping the region’s economic future. Through site visits, panel discussions and leadership development activities, participants explored how communities collaborate to prepare a skilled workforce while supporting longterm economic vitality.

The session began at Ogeechee Technical College in Statesboro, where participants examined employer-driven workforce training models and strategies for addressing workforce gaps through industry partnerships and experiential learning. Leaders from Ogeechee Technical College and Xcel Strategies discussed the importance of aligning workforce development initiatives with regional economic needs and highlighted innovative approaches to job readiness and skills training.

Participants visited Georgia Southern University’s Business Innovation Group (BIG), where discussions centered on entrepreneurship, innovation and career readiness initiatives designed to strengthen workforce pipelines and support emerging business leaders. Representatives from Georgia Southern University and Bulloch County Schools described how collaboration between education and industry helps prepare students for evolving workforce demands.

The session continued in Screven County, where participants explored the intersection of agriculture, civic leadership and youth development in sustaining rural economies. During a panel discussion, seasoned farmers, and middle and high school students involved in FFA and 4-H, participants heard perspectives on the economic impact of agriculture and the importance of agricultural education in developing future community leaders. The conversation highlighted both the legacy and future of the industry, with students’ perspectives and enthusiasm standing out as a highlight for many participants.

“Leadership Southeast Georgia is about more than learning — it’s about equipping leaders to go back and move the needle in their own organizations,” said Maria Moss, lead program manager for the session. “This session put our participants in the room with the next generation and gave them hands-on experiences that translate directly to how they think about workforce and economic development back home.”

Participants were hosted at the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority for discussions focused on the intersection of economic development strategy and workforce readiness. The session featured an interactive economic development simulation facilitated by Jessica Hood, vice president of the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority and vice chair of Leadership Southeast Georgia.

Working in teams, participants pitched fictional communities to prospective industry partners, applying lessons from previous sessions to explore how workforce development, infrastructure and community assets influence economic growth and business recruitment. The exercise served as a culmination of the session’s themes and highlighted the connection between workforce readiness and the decisions that shape Southeast Georgia communities.

“Economic development and workforce development go hand in hand,” Hood said.