Walt Sprouse is the Executive Director of the Augusta Economic Development Authority. Walt is charged with the economic development strategy for Augusta, including the recruitment of targeted companies such as manufacturing, distribution, life sciences and customer service companies and corporate headquarters to Augusta-Richmond County. Prior to coming to Augusta, Walt Sprouse served as President of the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation in North Carolina for fifteen years. During his 25-year career in economic development, Walt has recruited more than two billion dollars in new and expanding industrial investment, with more than 22,000 new jobs created. Walt has been responsible for the location of Augusta companies such as Starbucks Manufacturing, ADP, T-Mobile, Kenda Tire, RSI, and dozens more. In 2012, the Georgia Economic Developers Association named the Starbucks Project the "Deal of the Year in the State of Georgia." During his career, Walt has won twenty-six national and regional awards for economic development marketing. Sprouse is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and the Institute for Organization Management at the University of Georgia. Walt recently completed six terms on the Board of Directors of the International Economic Development Council. He is a Past President of the North Carolina Economic Developers Association. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Savannah River Site Community Re-Use Organization, the Ronald McDonald House of Augusta, and the Episcopal Day School of Augusta. In 2010, Walt was named by Georgia Trend Magazine to their highest honor as one of the "100 Most Influential Georgians." In 2006 and again in 2008, Georgia Trend named Walt to their list of "Notable Georgians." In 2011, the International Economic Development Council awarded Walt the "Honorary Life Membership Achievement" Award. He and his wife, Cookie, have two sons, two daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren.