Building economic opportunity in Henry County

Sharon K. Hill is the Executive Director of the Henry County Development Authority, where she leads efforts to strengthen the community’s economic well-being by attracting new industries, supporting the growth of existing ones, and fostering job creation through strategic planning, workforce development, marketing, and collaborative partnerships with education and Industry.

Under her leadership, she successfully secured $493 million dollars in capital expenditure, resulting in the creation of over 730 new jobs. Her work focused on serving as a vital liaison between the public and private sectors—connecting industries with resources, advocating for policies that create a favorable business environment, and developing programs that meet both workforce and community needs.

Her leadership and impact have been widely recognized. Sharon has been named to the 100 List of Georgia’s Most Powerful and Influential Women – Corporate America by Women Looking Ahead Magazine, honored in Ebony Magazine’s “Women at the Top,” and received a Certificate of Special Recognition from U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop.

Susan Wise is the Manager of Business Development for the Henry County Development Authority, where she markets Henry County to new business and investment opportunities, collaborates with regional and state partners to support business development, and assists prospects through the site selection process.

Susan’s career spans over 20+ years as a business development professional in architectural, engineering, and construction firms, giving her a unique perspective through the relocation or expansion process for businesses. In her role, Susan supports the economic development and growth of Henry County by cultivating strategic relationships, promoting available properties and incentive programs, and leveraging market intelligence to align opportunities with industry trends.

Angela Hall is the Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) Manager for the Henry County Development Authority, where she partners closely with existing industries to support business growth, workforce stability, and long-term competitiveness. With a strong foundation in talent acquisition and human resources, Angela brings a people-centered, data-informed approach to economic development—bridging employer needs with workforce, education, and community solutions.

Angela’s career spans over 15+ years leading workforce planning, employer branding, and HR strategy initiatives giving her a unique perspective on the challenges businesses face in attracting, retaining, and developing talent. In her role as BRE, she works directly with industry leaders to identify operational and workforce trends, connect companies to training and incentive resources, and align talent pipelines with current and future labor demands. Her work focuses on proactive engagement, strategic listening, and translating employer feedback into actionable workforce and economic development initiatives.

Cherie Simon is the Executive Assistant for the Henry County Development Authority, where she supports the preparation of monthly Board meeting materials, coordinates scheduling and travel arrangements, and maintains day-to-day operations through administrative tasks. With a strong foundation in organization and communication, Cherie brings a collaborative and positive impact to the organization’s daily operations.

Cherie’s career spans 20+ years with experience supporting senior leadership, operational management, and editing, handling travel coordination, executive affairs, and administrative tasks. In her role as Executive Assistant, she works closely with fellow Henry County Development Authority staff members to support economic development, event planning, and relationship management with industry and community partners within Henry County.

Abigail Watkins is a Communications Specialist for the Henry County Development Authority, where she develops communications strategies, manages social media channels, and creates creative materials to assist with marketing and events to ensure brand consistency. Recently, Abigail worked on creating a brand standard for the Henry County Development Authority’s social media channels and aided in the modernization of the website.

A resident of Henry County, Abigail is a recent graduate of Georgia College & State University. During her undergraduate career, she gained valuable experience working as a Communications Specialist for the Georgia College Leadership Programs, interning with two Georgia companies, and being mentored by a top Georgia leader through the Georgia Education Mentorship Program.