This open letter was started as a thank you note and has grown to become a love letter.
I moved my family to Fayette County in 1987. Like most of you, my wife Bonnie and I came for the great schools and the very low crime. We still had young children at home and our last home didn’t feel as safe as it had just a few years earlier.
We really hit a home run here, with a horse farm on one side and the elementary school on the other. The fairy tale continues a couple of years later with an opportunity to buy a well-established local insurance agency. Today, two of our three children work in the family business, after successfully completing their college careers, and yet another generation of our family begins to blossom here.
Fayette County has provided a wealth of opportunities for my family and we are very grateful. Our educational expectations were exceeded and our kids amassed great leadership and citizenship lessons from all the smart and generous neighbors who became mentors via the many civic organizations we associated with over the years.
Thirteen years ago, following the death of my good friend and mentor, Bob Disharoon, I was asked by members of the County Commission to fill his seat on the Fayette County Development Authority.
During this time, I have been blessed to serve with a highly distinguished and dedicated group of volunteer leaders. Though the faces changed over time, our chairman, Randy Hayes, and all my colleagues on that board exhibited a very high level of commitment and business acumen to the work of attracting companies from all over the world to hang a shingle in Fayette County, Ga., and create great jobs for our neighbors.
Last week, our president and CEO, Matt Forshee, announced that he will be leaving to join Georgia Power’s Economic Development Team. Matt will be moving his family to the Augusta area for their next adventure, but I predict this won’t be the last you hear from Matt.
Just like the other young men who have served our county via this FCDA, Matt has become known across Georgia and beyond as a talented and energetic public servant, another high quality alumni from an unlikely launching pad, my beloved Fayette County, Ga.
As my service to the FCDA Board ends, my family and I wanted to say, “Thanks for the launch”! We are so very proud to call Fayette County our home and to know you, our friends.
Phil Smelley, Secretary/Treasurer
Fayette County Development Authority
President/owner
The Complete Insurance Source
Fayetteville, Ga.
