Georgetown County Administrator Angela Christian is pleased to announce the hiring of Kelly Robertson-Slagle as the county’s new Economic Development Director. Robertson-Slagle will officially step into the role on May 27.
Her arrival comes at a critical time for economic development in Georgetown County, as the community navigates the impacts of recent industrial closures, including the International Paper mill and the Georgetown steel mill. Additionally, ongoing efforts to clean up and redevelop the Georgetown Port present both challenges and great opportunities for economic growth.
“This is a tremendously opportune time to be part of the transformation of Georgetown. There are great opportunities here and we’re looking forward to having Kelly be part of that and part of Team Georgetown,” Christian said.
Robertson-Slagle comes to Georgetown from Maryland, where she has worked in economic development for more than 25 years. She has experience with economic development at the local, regional and state levels, and brings a wealth of knowledge in business attraction, retention, workforce development and strategic economic growth. She said she is excited to bring her experience, passion and commitment to Georgetown County and looks forward to collaborating with stakeholders to drive economic growth, while maintaining the area’s rich history and natural beauty.
She is also looking forward to becoming a part of the community in an area she has already come to love. Her youngest daughter graduated from Coastal Carolina University and now works in North Myrtle Beach.
“When my oldest moved to the area to, my husband Jeff and I quickly realized this was the place for us,” Robertson-Slagle said. “We already had our hearts set on moving here when we retire. When I saw the job posting for an economic development director, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to move our plans up.”
The couple already owns a second home in Murrells Inlet and have been frequent visitors to Georgetown County for the better part of a decade.
“We’ve literally fallen in love with Georgetown County,” she said. “It couldn’t be a better situation. And I’ve already met some amazing people through the interview process.”
Robertson-Slagle currently serves as the Director of Economic Development for Charles County, Md., where she led a 12-person department focused on attracting capital investment, expanding employment opportunities and fostering business development. She also spearheaded agricultural development initiatives and marketing strategies to support local industries.
She spent 15 years with the Calvert County Department of Economic Development, where she held key leadership roles in business retention, expansion and entrepreneurship before serving as Director from 2017 to 2021. Additionally, she was the Director of the Maryland Small Business Development Center for Southern Maryland, overseeing business advisory programs, and worked for the Maryland Department of Commerce, assisting local jurisdictions with economic growth initiatives.
Robertson-Slagle will step down as the Secretary for the Maryland Economic Development Association Board of Directors at the end of April, is a founding board member of the Southern Maryland Innovates initiative and is the past Chair of the Southern Maryland Regional Innovation Collaborative. She also previously served as Chair of the Southern Maryland Economic Development Association and was a board member for the Cedar Point Federal Credit Union, the University Systems of Maryland at Southern Maryland Board of Advisors, and the College of Southern Maryland Foundation.
Robertson-Slagle said she has a deep appreciation for small businesses and entrepreneurs, having grown up in a family that has owned and operated businesses for generations. She understands firsthand the dedication, hard work and resilience required to build and sustain a thriving business, she said.
A dedicated leader in economic development, Robertson-Slagle has a bachelor’s of Marketing from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, an associate’s degree in Business Administration and Management Development from the College of Southern Maryland and is a Master Economic Development Practitioner, certified by the University of Southern Mississippi. She is also a graduate of Leadership Maryland, Leadership Southern Maryland, and the National Association of Counties High Performance Leadership Academy.
An event will be scheduled this summer to give residents an opportunity to get to know Robertson-Slagle as she dives into her new position.