After 18 years as the head of the Partnership, Executive Director Joe King will retire on June 30, 2022. During his tenure, Joe led the County through significant economic growth and has the County poised for tremendous opportunity. Selected to lead the Partnership and continue its success is a South Carolina Certified Economic Developer, C. Gregory “Gregg” Robinson (SCCED), who will take the reins on July 11, 2022. Board of Director’s Chair Rocky Pearce had high praise for the new CEO. “Gregg impressed us from the start. Throughout three rounds of interviews, Gregg continually stood apart from the field, impressing the committee with his experience and charisma. His background and regional knowledge are well-suited to the Partnership, and I know he will build upon our strong community assets and new product development initiatives right away.” In addition, King will serve as a consultant during the initial months of transition. Gregg remarked, “Economic Development is a process, not an event. It truly takes a team with dedication and commitment to develop and win in today’s competitive global market. That’s why I am very excited to have been chosen as the CEO of the Florence County Economic Development Partnership.”
Search Committee Chair Seward retained MRB Group’s Charleston office in January 2022 to conduct the executive recruitment. Paul Seward says, “Gregg Robinson brings over 20 years of economic development experience and expertise. His experience in recruitment, working with existing industry, and product development will be a huge value to our County for years to come.” Florence County Progress Chair Jill Lewis added, “The Progress Team was very excited to be a part of this prestigious group that worked so hard to find the right leader for the CEO position of Florence County Economic Development Partnership. We believe the hiring of Gregg Robinson meets the vision and continuous growth for Florence County. This is a big win for all of us.”
County Council Chair Willard Dorriety, Jr. had the opportunity to meet Gregg during his onsite visit. “I appreciated the FCEDP search committee allowing me to meet with Gregg during the interview process. A successful economic development program is integral to the health of a community, and Florence County is fortunate to have public and private sector partners aligned with the overall mission of the FCEDP. County Council looks forward to working with Gregg to bring economic opportunities to the greater Florence area.” Dorreity commented.
When asked about what drew him to the position, Gregg said, “The prospect of working with such a great staff and esteemed group of leaders at the County, municipalities, Board of Directors, and Progress Board is one I couldn’t refuse. In addition, the opportunity to lead in developing new industrial parks, engaging in a strategic planning process, and working with Florence County to new economic successes in the years to come is compelling.”
Looking forward to the next steps in assuming leadership of the FCEDP, Gregg acknowledges the trust earned by the committee. “I wish to thank the Florence County leadership for having faith in my abilities to take economic development to a whole new level, raise the standard of living of all citizens and create quality jobs for the future. I truly look forward to working together.” Gregg remarked.
Gregg’s 30 -year career encompasses all areas of economic development, including global business recruitment, infrastructure development, marketing, research, and operations. For the last 17 years, he has served as the Executive Director of the Orangeburg County Development Commission. Under his guidance, the County publicly announced $1.5+ Billion in new capital investment and created over 2,000 new jobs. Additionally, he took the County of Orangeburg from four to eleven industrial parks and oversaw the completion of five industrial spec buildings. His dedication led the County to boast more certified sites than any other in the state. Before joining Orangeburg, he worked as a South Carolina Department of Commerce project manager in the global development division under two governors.
Gregg received his Master’s Degree and Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Carolina and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute (EDI).