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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.

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Next Gen Talent

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

    Gregory C. (Greg) Dozier

    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.

    Thank You to Our Sponsors!