After five years leading Partnership Habersham, Charlie Fiveash has stepped down from his role as executive director. His resignation came in late April, with no specific reason provided. Efforts to reach Partnership Habersham Chairman Rope Roberts for comment were unsuccessful. No successor has been named yet.
“The first goal when I came on board was to enhance the Airport Business Part,” Fiveash said. “We rebranded it. Fortunately, we were successful in selling some of the sites.”
Partnership Habersham is a public-private entity focused on workforce development, economic growth, and infrastructure investment here in Habersham County.
A native of Brunswick, Georgia, Fiveash earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Georgia. At age 50, he went on to complete a master’s in logistics and supply chain/operations management, later teaching the subject at Gwinnett Technical College in 2015.
With over 35 years in commercial development around Atlanta, Fiveash ran as a moderate Republican for Georgia’s State Senate in 2017. Though he finished as runner-up in the Republican primary, the seat ultimately flipped blue and remains under Democratic control in 2025.
Leading through change
In 2020, amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fiveash took over as executive director of Partnership Habersham, succeeding the late Tim Lee, who served for three and a half years before passing away from cancer.
Since arriving, Fiveash has worked to foster economic development in Habersham County, emphasizing the goal of reducing the tax burden on homeowners by increasing industrial and commercial activity.
“I came up here to Habersham for something different,” Fiveash said. “We wanted out of the city of Atlanta. It was a pleasant surprise coming here to Habersham, where you didn’t have to lock your doors, everybody’s friendly and you could talk about your faith more openly. The first few years really felt like a good fit.”
During his tenure, Fiveash oversaw the full development of the first phase of the Airport Business Park, including its rebranding from the generic “industrial business park” to a more appealing name for potential investors. Since his arrival, 15 to 18 companies have taken up residence in the park, generating around 250 jobs.
Boosting hospitality and infrastructure
Another notable achievement during Fiveash’s leadership was the establishment of the Fairfield Inn in Cornelia, a 79-room hotel that created more than 30 jobs. Securing the hotel required extensive negotiations and an incentive package that included temporary tax breaks. The hotel is projected to begin paying full taxes within a decade, offsetting the initial incentives.
“The fact I had a personal connection with the developer helped make that deal happen,” Fiveash said. “The Partnership also worked hard to facilitate that. That revenue will continue to be substantial over time…it was one of those good projects to work on because of the collaboration between the development authority, county and city governments as well as Partnership (Habersham).”
Fiveash also played a key role in establishing a Tax Allocation District (TAD) in Cornelia, giving the city a powerful tool for encouraging redevelopment by allowing bonds to be issued and repaid through increased property tax revenues in designated areas.
“That’s still in play,” Fiveash said. “That (TAD) stays around in perpetuity. We helped facilitate that locally and through the (state) legislature.”
Courthouse redevelopment efforts
Among the few disappointments during Fiveash’s time was the failed redevelopment of the old Habersham County courthouse. A proposal by Parkside Partners to transform the historic building into 21 luxury condos fell through in October despite a $100,000 investment and nearly a year of effort.
“I spent the better part of a year facilitating the starts and stops,” Fiveash said. “It was kind of sad they couldn’t make that work economically. I spent a fair amount of my time on that.”
Building a stronger partnership
Since joining Partnership Habersham, Fiveash has worked to expand its inclusivity. Under his leadership, meetings involved a broad range of stakeholders—from state transportation officials to media representatives—fostering open dialogue about the county’s future.
“We’ve tried to look at the big picture of economic development and how Habersham fits in the whole Northeast Georgia projection,” Fiveash said.
Fiveash helped push for SPLOST VII, a one-penny sales tax that has funded capital projects such as a new animal shelter, law enforcement initiatives and a 911 radio tower.
“I wanted to make Partnership more inclusive and bring in the county and cities – including Cornelia and Baldwin,” Fiveash said. “I always wanted to do this with a sense of professionalism. We’re a real crossroads in this region, and we sought to find what strategic and smart growth looks like.”
Praise for a lasting impact
On May 9, local officials honored Fiveash’s contributions. Former Habersham County Commissioner Bruce Palmer praised his role in workforce development through the Raider-Up program, which helped local high school students gain trade skills.
“The workforce development program that Charlie had a part of in the high school was really top-notch,” Palmer said. “We had some industry come into the county and also SteelCell expanded and built another building. So, I think he was a good director for Partnership Habersham.”
Jim Butterworth, Chair of the Development Authority, called Fiveash a driving force for economic growth.
“I have considered Charlie a friend and I’ve certainly enjoyed the time we’ve put in to make Habersham County better,” Butterworth said. “His heart has definitely been in making Habersham better. And personally, I will miss his smile and engaging personality in and around Habersham County and North Georgia.”
Baldwin Mayor Stephanie Almagno also praised Fiveash’s regional vision and approach.
“I appreciated Charlie’s focus on regional economic development,” Almagno said. “We have to think about Habersham County – not as an island – but in relationship to the counties contiguous to us. And I think Charlie thought about that. I appreciated the fact that he thought about that.”
Looking ahead
As for what’s next, Fiveash says he and his wife are weighing options for the future. For now, they plan to remain in Georgia.
“Hopefully, we left a legacy,” Fiveash said.
