Next Gen Talent:

Shaping Tomorrow’s Workforce Today

Next-Gen Talent: Shaping Tomorrow’s Workforce Today is a Workforce Development Summit that will bring together employers and educators to align needs, connect with other leaders, spark powerful ideas, and shape strategies to develop the next generation of talent for our region.

Tickets for the summit are $25pp and deadline for registration is December 20 — Sign up today!

This summit is sponsored through a Recompete Grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, and CHIPS4CHIPS.

Join us in empowering the next generation of talent.

Thursday, January 16, 2025, 8:30 am – 4:00pm

The Leadership Institute at Columbus State University: 3100 Gentian Blvd, Columbus, GA 31907

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Keynote Speaker

Stuart Countess

Stuart Countess is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Kia Georgia’s manufacturing facility in West Point, Ga. Countess is responsible for all operational facets of the five-model assembly plant that employs more than 3,200 team members and produces a capacity of 350,000 vehicles annually.

From his start with Kia Georgia in 2008, Countess was a key figure in developing and implementing The Kia Way and the Georgia Production System as core practices of the facility’s operational system. Countess has held positions as the company’s Director of Quality, Vice President of Quality, Chief Administrative Officer, and Chief Operating Officer before assuming his current role.

He is highly active in community, civic, and educational organizations promoting individual development and providing leadership through service on multiple boards and committees in various capacities.

Meet the Panel

Laura Bailey

Educator, Alabama State Department of Education

Laura Bailey is an Education Administrator with the Alabama State Department of Education, specializing in Career and Technical Education (CTE) Workforce Development. She provides leadership and oversight for Alabama’s Health Science, Education and Training, Human Services, and Hospitality and Tourism CTE clusters, supporting approximately 500 CTE teachers across the state.
As a dedicated advocate for K-12 integration, Mrs. Bailey co-authored the Alabama Career Development Model Framework, which strengthens the alignment of career pathways across education levels. Additionally, she leads the annual CTE Summer Development Conference, bringing together nearly 2,000 professionals for training and collaboration. Before joining the Alabama State Department of Education in 2020, Mrs. Bailey served as the Career and Technical Education Director for Auburn City Schools, where she oversaw 15 CTE programs. Her work in the field earned her the prestigious 2018 Alabama Association for Career and Technical Education Administrator of the Year award. Mrs. Bailey holds a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences from the University of Montevallo and a Master of Educational Leadership from Auburn University. She is currently pursuing a Juris Doctorate from the Birmingham School of Law.

Brian P. Denny

Human Resources Manager, Vectorply Corporation

After being honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps in 1993, Brian began his career in Manufacturing. He brings a unique perspective as he has served in many roles in manufacturing organizations. He started his career as a Tool and Die maker in the metal stamping industry after receiving an associate’s degree in Machine Trades. After a few years, he went back to school and achieved a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing management from the University of Minnesota. Upon receiving his degree, Brian held various Operations Supervisor and Manager roles. While working as a Prototype Department Manager, he was asked if he would be interested in starting a formalized training program to initially focus on welding training. Brian accepted the new position as Training Manager where he built a very successful training department that consisted of a certified welding instructor, subject matter specialists in each department, and a weeklong rigorous new hire onboarding. During that time, he also assumed responsibility for the company’s Safety Department. Then he was asked to step in as the Human Resources Manager. He accepted the role while maintaining responsibility Training and Safety. To learn more about Human Resources, Brian earned a master’s degree in human resources management from Villanova University. Since then, Brian has worked for various organizations in Minnesota, South Dakota, Georgia, and Alabama. He is currently the Human Resources Manager at Vectorply Corporation where he is responsible for HR, Safety and Employee Training and Development.

Gregory C. (Greg) Dozier

Commissioner, Technical College System of Georgia

In January 2020, Governor Brian Kemp appointed Greg Dozier as the sixth Commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). As Commissioner, Dozier is responsible for the 22 technical colleges of TCSG and leads a team of more than 12,000 employees across the system. Dozier has the responsibility of managing an annual budget of more than $1.1 billion.

Prior to joining TCSG, Dozier was Chief Financial Officer for the State of Georgia from January 2019 to January 2020. Dozier also served as Commissioner of the Department of Corrections where he was responsible for overseeing the supervision of nearly 52,000 felony state offenders and leading a team of nearly 10,500 employees. In 2005, Dozier was appointed as Commissioner of the Department of Driver Services (DDS) and guided a team of approximately 900 employees. During his appointment, DDS celebrated many customer service improvements and, in 2008, Dozier was presented with the Governor’s Award for Customer Service – Leadership.

Dozier began his career in state government in 1995 as an Analyst for the Legislative Budget Office. A few years later, he transferred to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles where he held the position of Director of Accounting. In 1999, he joined the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) where he initially served as the Policy Coordinator and was later promoted to the Division Director of the General Government and Public Safety Division. Dozier has served in leadership capacities under Governors Perdue, Deal, and Kemp.

Dozier received his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and his MBA in Finance from Georgia State University. Dozier is a graduate of the Basic Law Enforcement Training Course, Regional Police Academy in Athens, and was the recipient of the Frank Thornton Academic Award for Excellence.

Commissioner Dozier resides in Covington with his wife and two daughters.

Colin Martin

Area Manager of External Affairs, AT&T Georgia

Colin Martin is Area Manager of External Affairs for AT&T Georgia. Prior to joining AT&T, he served as President & CEO of the Fayette Chamber of Commerce in Fayetteville, GA. He previously served as President & CEO of the Harris County Chamber of Commerce and as Vice President of Government Affairs at the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce, as well as on the staff of Congressman Lynn Westmoreland. He currently serves on the boards of directors of Columbus Technical College and Jordan Vocational High School College & Career Academy. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where he earned a commission in the United States Army Field Artillery. In May, he will graduate with a Masters in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Government from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Dr. Dionne rosser-Mims

Vice Chancellor, Troy University, Phenix City Campus

Dr. Dionne Rosser-Mims is a dedicated advocate for inclusivity, social justice, and the transformative power of education, drawing inspiration from her upbringing in a culturally rich community. She enjoys actively volunteering with local nonprofit organizations that focus on education, mentorship, and empowerment of underprivileged communities. With over 25 years of experience in higher education, including roles in collegiate teaching, training, and talent development, she currently serves as the Vice Chancellor of Troy University’s Phenix City Campus and holds the position of full professor of adult education and global leadership. As an accomplished author, Dionne has published four influential books, including the 2020 co-edited volume “Pathways into the Political Arena: The Perspectives of Global Women Leaders.” She is also the co-editor of the newly launched “Transformative Women Leaders” book series, furthering her mission to empower women’s voices in leadership. Dionne holds membership and leadership positions in several prestigious organizations. She is the president of the International Leadership Association’s Women and Leadership member community and serves as a board member for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Additionally, she chairs the Community Schools United Steering Committee at the United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley and is the vice chair of the Chattahoochee Hub for Innovation and Production of Semiconductors Coalition (CHIPS 4 CHIPS). Dionne is also involved with the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley, the East Alabama Chamber of Commerce, and Phenix City Rotary. Dionne is happily married to DeCarlton for 23 years, and they take great pride in supporting their daughter Gabrielle, a freshman at Troy University who is pursuing a degree in elementary education and American Sign Language. Dr. Dionne Rosser-Mims is a dedicated advocate for inclusivity, social justice, and the transformative power of education, drawing inspiration from her upbringing in a culturally rich community. She enjoys actively volunteering with local nonprofit organizations that focus on education, mentorship, and empowerment of underprivileged communities. With over 25 years of experience in higher education, including roles in collegiate teaching, training, and talent development, she currently serves as the Vice Chancellor of Troy University’s Phenix City Campus and holds the position of full professor of adult education and global leadership. As an accomplished author, Dionne has published four influential books, including the 2020 co-edited volume “Pathways into the Political Arena: The Perspectives of Global Women Leaders.” She is also the co-editor of the newly launched “Transformative Women Leaders” book series, furthering her mission to empower women’s voices in leadership. Dionne holds membership and leadership positions in several prestigious organizations. She is the president of the International Leadership Association’s Women and Leadership member community and serves as a board member for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Additionally, she chairs the Community Schools United Steering Committee at the United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley and is the vice chair of the Chattahoochee Hub for Innovation and Production of Semiconductors Coalition (CHIPS 4 CHIPS). Dionne is also involved with the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley, the East Alabama Chamber of Commerce, and Phenix City Rotary. Dionne is happily married to DeCarlton for 23 years, and they take great pride in supporting their daughter Gabrielle, a freshman at Troy University who is pursuing a degree in elementary education and American Sign Language.