Deputy Commissioner, International Relations

Abby Turano is the Deputy Commissioner for International Relations at the Georgia Department of Economic Development. She previously served as the Chief of Protocol for the state. Turano leads the diplomatic affairs team, handling matters of foreign affairs on behalf of the Governor and GDEcD. She organizes visits to the state for foreign heads of state, senior ministers and other officials, and she manages gubernatorial economic development missions abroad. Turano also liaises with the state's international consular corps and trade community, which represents approximately 68 nations.
She also previously worked in GDEcD's business communications division, where she coordinated domestic marketing and communications strategies; welcomed incoming international delegations; and provided support for trade missions. Turano joined GDEcD in June 2008, following three years of service in former Governor Sonny Perdue's communications office where she served as the Governor's speechwriter.

Turano holds a master's degree in international affairs from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a bachelor's degree from Tulane University in New Orleans. She speaks French and lives in Atlanta with her husband and two daughters.