Gretchen Corbin was named to the position of Deputy Commissioner for Global Commerce at the Georgia Department of Economic Development in January 2011. In this role Corbin leads Georgia’s Global Commerce team to increase jobs and investment through locating and expanding businesses, as well as growing international trade and small business. The Global Commerce team includes statewide and existing industry project teams, the international trade team, small business, and Georgia’s ten international offices.
During her time as Deputy Commissioner, Corbin has led the Global Commerce team to great success in locating and expanding companies throughout the state, as well as growing Georgia’s exports. Corbin’s leadership has resulted in one of the most successful periods in the Department’s history, with the location or expansion of 665 companies, representing $8.2B capital investment and 43,636 jobs. In the last fiscal year, Corbin led her team to a record-breaking year that saw 403 projects locate in the state. Those projects will create 29,176 jobs and $5.67B in capital investment. Corbin has also been instrumental in the location of several large companies to the state, including Caterpillar Inc. and Baxter International. These two projects alone will yield 3,200 jobs and over $1.2B investment. The international trade team also had a year of great success, helping companies throughout Georgia with 311 export deals valued at over $39M.
Corbin has worked with the Georgia Department of Economic Development since 1998 and has served in many capacities, including Division Director for International Operations and Director of Project Managers for Existing Industry & Recruitment. Corbin led Georgia’s international team as they opened the state’s office in China, and implemented the historic start of the SEUS-Canadian Provinces Alliance.
In additional Economic Development roles, Corbin has worked with the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Cartersville – Bartow Chamber of Commerce.
Corbin is involved in a number of professional and civic organizations, including Leadership Georgia and Rotary International. A native of Georgia, Corbin was born in Athens, and raised in Cedartown. Corbin graduated with a management degree from Clemson University and from the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute.