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Lisa Lawson
The Stephens County Development Authority recognized one outgoing board member and welcomed a new one at their July 19 meeting.
The board recognized outgoing member Savonda Turner and welcomed new member Lisa Lawson.
“The Stephens County Development Authority would like to applaud the dedication, leadership and wisdom of Savonda Turner, who completed her tenure on the SCDA Board in June of 2023,” authority board chaiman Brian Akin said.
“Savonda has worked diligently from July 2021 through June 2023 to promote economic development within Stephens County, and has made significant contributions to Stephens County and the City of Toccoa. We thank Savonda for her tireless work in our community,” Akin said.
He presented Turner with a plaque for her service.
At the same meeting, Akin welcomed Lawson who stepped into her role as chair of the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce automatically giving her a seat on the development authority.
Lawson is the North Georgia Community Outreach Advisor for WoodmenLife and a lifelong resident of Stephens County.
She opened a salon at age 19 and was the owner and operator of Lisa’s Hair Gallery for 15 years.
After selling the salon, she was employed by the University of Georgia’s Cooperative Extension Service as the 4-H program assistant and later took a position with Stephens County as the Senior Center director.
She joined the Stephens County Development Authority’s board of directors in July as the Chair to the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce.
She has also served on the Ninth District Opportunities board as well as the North Georgia Housing Authority board.
Lisa and her husband, Billy, live in Toccoa and are members of the First Baptist Church.
The Stephens County Development Authority was created under the laws of the State of Georgia as a governmental entity to encourage and support the expansion and development of industrial and commercial facilities in Stephens County, Georgia so as to promote employment.
The board of directors is made up by the Stephens County Board of Commissioners chair, the City of Toccoa’s Mayor, the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce chair and two members appointed by the Stephens County Board of Commissioners.