CHAD WARBINGTON: Albany-Dougherty EDC President Justin Strickland a true Albany success story

As a community leader, I cringe when I hear a young person say, “I’m leaving Albany as soon as I can” or “There is nothing to keep me here.” I’ve worked with plenty of young professionals who move in and criticize Albany for an apparent lack of nightlife, lack of certain restaurants and lack of “things to do.” They typically are here two to three years and move on to a bigger city with apparent better amenities. For them, Albany can be viewed as a place to put in your time, complete your assignment and then move on to bigger and better things.

However, that thought process is not true for many young professionals in Albany. Myself being a transplant to Albany 20 years ago, I’ve decided to put down roots, raise my family, run a business and stay in Albany. As I talk to more people in Albany, I’ve realized there are plenty of others who have chosen Albany strategically to live for personal or business reasons. Unfortunately, they are the silent ones who are overshadowed by the vocal few who want the bigger metropolitan lifestyle and whatever perceived opportunities it brings.

One notable person who has recently “Chosen Albany” over other possibly bigger or perceived better communities is our new Economic Development president, Justin Strickland. Justin has been the second-in-command of Albany’s EDC for the last several years, and it was just a matter of time that it would be his turn to be the president of an EDC somewhere. Trust me, with his credentials and experience there are many “somewheres” that would love to have Justin as their leader and many have been after him. I’m just glad that the “somewhere” has become Albany now.

What is unique about Justin’s story is that he was born and raised in Albany, and has chosen to stay here. He was not a transplant like myself, he was not convinced to move here by an employer, and he did not see Albany as just another stepping stone. He was born at Phoebe Putney Hospital, attended elementary school at Sherwood Acres, middle school at Albany Middle, and high school at Albany High. He left Albany to attend the University of Georgia and then returned to Albany to work in the private sector and eventually with the EDC as vice president.

I’m sure countless adults in our community have poured into Justin’s life, from schoolteachers to coaches to ministers to mentors and, obviously, his own parents and family. If you had an impact on Justin’s life growing up, you are now a small part of his leadership assignment at our EDC.

Justin’s ability in his new role to recruit businesses and jobs to our own community has, in part, come from the same community he serves. What a novel idea … we grow and develop young people from our community to eventually serve in our community as leaders.

Unfortunately, the vocal few who are itching to leave Albany communicate the opposite of Justin’s story of staying in Albany and the many successes that can happen inside our community. I want to challenge our educational leaders, our business leaders, our government leaders. What can we learn from Justin’s story of being raised in Albany, staying in Albany and now leading us in Albany?

I’m sure there were plenty of other qualified candidates out there who could have filled Justin’s new leadership position, but I doubt any had the credentials Justin has coupled with a deep conviction of serving the community which served him. I wish Justin the best in his new position and we look forward to your Albany success story continuing in your new leadership role as president of our EDC.

Chad Warbington is an Albany business owner and a board member of the Albany-Dougherty County Economic Development Commission and the Albany Water, Gas & Light Commission.