"Marketing provides a nearly limitless toolbox to help people, communities, and businesses plan for and build their dreams. It's incredibly rewarding to help our customers identify and use the best tools for each job."
-Vanessa Wagner
Vanessa Wagner is a Certified Digital Marketing Professional, award-winning storyteller and strategist who uses her skills to support business growth. At Georgia Power Economic Development, she helps promote the state of Georgia in support of new business recruitment, expansion, and developing talent. Combining strategic thinking with project management skills she helps plan, promote and execute specialized programs and initiatives in support of community growth (ex, GrowGeorgia.com and CREATE). Additionally, guiding the execution of integrated/multi-channel campaigns and providing marketing support for economic development programs and initiatives.
Before this position, Vanessa served as the Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnership for Golden Isles Development Authority. There she oversaw communicating the unique advantages of locating in the Golden Isles, project management for incoming businesses, and building strong partner relationships. Vanessa also developed and led strategic programs, like Keep Glynn Running, to strengthen the coastal region’s business climate.
Vanessa has held marketing, business development, and program development positions with government agencies, startups, and higher education institutes. Her programs attained numerous accolades in those roles for the organizations she supported.
Vanessa is an active volunteer and supports several non-profits and initiatives, including Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship Advisory Board; Georgia Power ADAPPT (Alliance of Disability Advocates Pursing Progress Together); OUT Georgia Business Alliance; Manomet Conservation Sciences; and The Farm at Oatlands North for retired, abused, and neglected farm animals. She is a member of the Georgia Economic Development Association (GEDA) and the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI).
Vanessa and her husband Evan are native to Buffalo, New York. After eleven years of living in Northern Virginia, they relocated to the Golden Isles with their rescue mutts. They are both avid outdoor enthusiasts and enjoy exploring the waterways, trails, and beaches unique to Coastal Georgia.