Wally Orrel, President & CEO

As the President & CEO of the McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority, Wally strives to bring new industry to the county, while also advocating and implementing reuse of commercial and industrial buildings already located within the county. The most significant recent success story being the purchase from the state of Georgia of the Juvenile Detention Center on Highway 251, that had stood empty for several years. The center is now home to the Coastal Georgia Regional Commission, as well as the Darien City Police Department. Orrel has been instrumental in continuing the build-out of infrastructure within the Tidewater’s Industrial Complex and travels regularly to Atlanta to meet and interact with Project managers from the Georgia Department of Economic Development and brokers, both state and private, seeking business and industry to come to McIntosh County. He actively participates with the Unified Economic Partners in planning for future business and industrial growth to the area, along with County and City government, the School Administration, the Chamber of Commerce as well as local business leaders.

Wally’s Background:

Wally Orrel has been with the McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority since 2010. He formerly shared his time as  the president of the Darien-McIntosh County Chamber of Commerce where he served from early 2006 to January, 2015. Wally also serves as the Chairman of the Southeast Georgia Joint Development Authority, a multi-county economic development authority.

Orrel was previously the COO of the largest for-profit school system in the United States.