Saralyn Stafford

Bio:

Based in south Georgia’s Coffee County, Saralyn’s work focuses on connecting rural communities with UGA’s Public Service and Outreach units, including the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, the Small Business Development Center and the Archway Partnership, to assist in addressing community and regional challenges. Saralyn serves as a liaison between UGA and local elected officials, chambers of commerce, economic development professionals, school boards, nonprofit organizations, small business owners and other community leaders.

Prior to joining the Institute of Government in July 2018, Saralyn served for over 15 years in leadership roles with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Prior to DCA, she practiced economic development and chamber management at the local level in Waycross, Blackshear and Douglas. She helped found and managed the Georgia Academy for Economic Development, and continues to serve as a board member. She is a Certified Economic Developer, a graduate of the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Organizational Management and a 1999 graduate of Leadership Georgia. Saralyn is a past-chair of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Executives Association, has served on the board of the Georgia Economic Developers Association, is a past president of the Blackshear and Douglas Rotary Clubs and a former assistant district governor for Rotary International District 6920.