EFFINGHAM COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- IDA Staff Member
- Chief Executive Officer Jessica Hood / Vice President Debbie Trowell
Chief Executive Officer for the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority (ECIDA), Brandt Herndon, is responsible for the development and implementation of business development and business retention action plans, as well as the oversight of long term financial planning, land development strategies, and marketing initiatives.
Brandt is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, and holds a Masters of Business Administration from Georgia State University. Brandt has a wealth of experience in commercial and industrial real estate, having served as the executive vice president of Apple Realty, where he was responsible for sales, leasing, property management and development. He also held positions at the Georgia Department of Economic Development as well as Electric Cities of Georgia where he was an economic development project manager. Brandt came to the ECIDA from the Savannah Economic Development Authority, where he served as the vice president of business development for over 7 years.
Brandt is actively involved on the board of the Southern Economic Development Council, the Realtors Commercial Alliance of Savannah and Hilton Head, as well as the Local Board of Directors for Savannah Technical College, and the Board of Directors for the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development, Leadership Fayette, Leadership Henry, Leadership Savannah, and Atlanta Regional Commission's Regional Leadership Institute. Brandt is an Economic Development Finance Professional as designated by the National Development Council, and holds an Associate Brokers License through the Georgia Board of Realtors.
Job Titles:
- IDA Staff Member
- Office Manager
- Chief Executive Officer Jessica Hood / Vice President Debbie Trowell
Office Manager, Debbie Trowell, oversees and executes the administrative functions for the Effingham County Industiral Development Authority (ECIDA). Her duties include coordinating all aspects of financial matters, including the ECIDA's annual budget and audit, as well as maintaining contracts, lease agreements, and managing accounts payable and receivable. Debbie is also responsible for maintaining personnel records and official documents of the ECIDA and the ECIDA Board of Directors.
Debbie earned a degree in business accounting at South College while working for Bell South (formerly Southern Bell) in Savannah. Following graduation, Debbie freelanced for the Effingham County Tax Commissioners's office during tax season while raising her 3 children. Debbie also served as administrative assistant for the Federal Land Bank for 6 years before she took over managerial duties of Trowell's Tree Service, a role she served in for 10 years before joining the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority. Debbie recently celebrated her 20 year work anniversary with the ECIDA.
Eric was appointed to the board by the Effingham County Board of Commissioners in 2020 and represents GMD 10.
Jake was appointed to the board by the Effingham County Board of Commissioners in 2023 and represents GMD 1559.
Job Titles:
- IDA Staff Member
- Vice President
- Chief Executive Officer Jessica Hood / Vice President Debbie Trowell
Vice President, Jessica Hood, specializes in business attraction and business retention for the Effingham County Industrial Authority (ECIDA). Her focus includes promoting the organization and community to external audiences, coordinating and executing client visits and correspondences, and serving as the organization's point of contact for both existing industries and potential industrial clients.
Jessica is a cum laude graduate of Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics and a minor in regional development. She also earned her Masters in Business Administration from the Parker School of Business at Georgia Southern University. Jessica began her career in economic development at the Liberty County Development Authority, where she served as project manager for nearly five years. Prior to rejoining the LCDA as the Director of Business Development, Jessica worked on the business development team at the Savannah Economic Development Authority for over a year, and most recently served as the Executive Director at the Development Authority of Burke County.
Jessica is actively involved on the board of the Georgia Economic Developers Association, Leadership Southeast Georgia, and Georgia Southern University's Alumni Association. She is a graduate of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development, Leadership Liberty, Leadership Burke, Leadership Effingham, and Leadership Southeast Georgia. Jessica is also an Economic Development Finance Professional as designated by the National Development Council, and a Certified Economic Developer as designated by the International Economic Development Council. Jessica was honored as one of Effingham Living's 20 under 40 in 2021 and 2022, and was named to Georgia Southern University's 40 under 40 list in 2022.
Justin was appointed to the board by the City of Springfield in 2020 to represent the City of Springfield.
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Chairman Slade Helmly / Vice Chairman Lon Harden
Lon was appointed to the board by the City of Guyton in 2018 and represents the City of Guyton.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman Slade Helmly / Vice Chairman Lon Harden
Matt was appointed to the board by the Effingham County Board of Commissioners in 2019 and represents GMD 12.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chairman
- Chairman Slade Helmly / Vice Chairman Lon Harden
Slade was appointed to the board by the Effingham County Board of Commissioners in 2017 to represent GMD 9.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Secretary
Swaid was appointed to the board by the Effingham County Board of Commissioners in 2015 and represents GMD 11.
Trisha was appointed to the board in 2024 by the City of Rincon and represents the City of Rincon.
The Effingham County Industrial Development Authority holds open board meetings on the third Thursday of each month at 4:00 pm. Meetings take place in the Industrial Development Authority Board Room at 777 Old Augusta Road in Rincon, GA.