What is your name?

Alex Robinson

Where do you work and what is your job title?

Executive Director of Partnership Habersham at Habersham County Development Authority

How long have you been in economic development?

8 years

How did you get started in economic development?

I began as the executive assistant at the Evermore CID in Snellville, Georgia, when the first robotics Amazon fulfilment center project for the state was in its negotiation phase. I transitioned to a program manager role, where I focused on overseeing security and beautification programs that helped enhance the economic viability of the CID boundaries. After 4 years, I began working for Gwinnett County as their economic development manager, focusing on recruitment and expansion. Now I am the executive director of Partnership Habersham and the Habersham County Development Authority, where I have served since November 2025.

Tell us how your community is great.

As a private-public partnership, I get the opportunity to represent the government, private businesses, and education institutions that make up Habersham. With a population of just at 50,000, Habersham offers a blend of industry and small-town charm, where community is at the heart of everything we do. The best part about Habersham is we are in the Northeast Georgia region, at the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, so the mountains are a beautiful backdrop.

How has being a member of SEDC benefited you?

SEDC has provided me with so many educational resources to help grow my skills, better understand business recruitment tactics, help shape my Business Retention and Expansion program, and so much more! I feel like there is always something new I am learning with the trainings and programs offered. Additionally, I have made lasting relationships and friendships through SEDC that I would not have made otherwise.

What is something you/your organization has accomplished that you are most proud of?

This spring, we launched Habersham Works, a partnership between our local technical college (North Georgia Technical College) and our alternative school (the Habersham Success Academy) to bring students career-ready skills. We had 9 non-credentialed certification programs offered, along with industry tours and soft skills trainings, that students were able to participate in at a participation rate that met their varying needs. All certifications were recognized by our local industries, and we had 19 students graduate from the program, and a total of 65 certifications awarded.

Where is your favorite spot in your community and why?

My favorite spot in my community is the drive up Cannon Bridge Road, where you see a stunning view of Yonah Mountain and the Appalachian Mountain Range. You can't beat a mountain view.

What is a current podcast or book you would recommend?

I have been doing a lot of audiobooks lately and my favorite one this year was The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson.

What is your guilty pleasure TV show?

Any location of Real Housewives.

What is something you do in your free time?

I love crafts. Knitting, sewing, crocheting, painting, etc.

When you were younger, what did you envision yourself being when you grew up?

An architect.

Who is on your Economic Development Mount Rushmore?

Michelle Shaw with the Georgia Department of Economic Development