b'2019TEAMSouth GeorgiaDug Schwalls |NORMAN PARK Ag Leader As director of business development for Southern Valley, located in Colquitt County, Dug Schwalls searches for ways to improve the farms overall business model and customer base.Covering both retail and foodservice accounts, Schwalls says, I have helped grow Southern Valleys annual sales by more than 900 percent from 2002 to 2018. This helped to produce over 60 jobs that were filled with employees from surrounding communities.Rick McCaskill|BAINBRIDGEAs a rising leader within the produce industry, Schwalls serves on the board of directors for the Southeast Produce Council, Regional Impact Not one to give up, Rick McCaskill,which has a mission to promote fruit and vegetable farmers in the executive director of the Development Authority of Bainbridge- Southeast region. He also chairs the councils Terry Vorhees Golf Decatur County, knows that patience and persistence pay off.Classic, which in the past three years has donated approximately $300,00 to various childrens hospitals and youth homes.Under McCaskills leadership, Bainbridge-Decatur County successfully recruited one of the regions most significantAn active member in the local community, Schwalls is on the industrial projects. Bringing approximately 300 new jobs andboard of director for the Colquitt County Packers Touchdown Club infusing more than $25.5 million in infrastructure and operations,and is an active member at Norman Park Baptist Church.Taurus USA now calls Bainbridge home.The Taurus project was recognized as a 2018 Deals of the Year by the Georgia Department of Economic Developers Association for a small-size community.A 30-year veteran in the area of economic development, McCaskill has spent the past 12 years in Decatur County. During his tenure, he has championed the development authoritys efforts to build three industrial parks and built four spec buildings, along with the creation of more than 2,000 jobs. An advocate for regional economic efforts, McCaskill helped create Locate South Georgia, a partnership of 17 counties that combines resources to market the region as globally competitive for business and industry growth.44 SG MAGAZINE| FALL 2019 BUSINESS + CULTURE45'