The LEAD Athens Class of 2017 recently took a trip to the Savannah Port to learn about state economic development and how the port and other area business have helped Georgia become a considerable player in national and world commerce.

On Sept. 16 class members were provided a breakdown of factors in the port’s considerable growth over the past 10 years and later got an up-close tour of the entire facility. Afterward, the group met with members of LEAD Savannah for a social and dinner.

The gathering offered a chance reunion with Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Chief Jack Lumpkin, who served in the same role in Athens for 17 years before retiring in 2014.

The next day the LEAD Athens group visited Gulfstream to learn about its growing aircraft business and how it benefits from close proximity to a large shipping center.