After 10 years of service to the City of Cornelia, Jessie Owensby is stepping into a new leadership role in neighboring White County — closing a chapter marked by professional growth, expanding responsibilities, and a deep loyalty to the community she calls home.
Owensby began her career with Cornelia in 2015 as Community Development Director. At the time, the position focused largely on Main Street management, with some economic development responsibilities on the side.
Over the years, however, the role evolved — and so did Owensby.
“It kind of grew and grew and grew,” she said with a laugh.
What began as a focused downtown development role gradually expanded into a broad umbrella of responsibilities that included economic development, Main Street management, tourism initiatives, housing programs, grant writing, special projects, planning and zoning, and more. By the end of her tenure, multiple staff members would inherit portions of what had once been solely under her direction.
A Commitment to Learning
Alongside the growth of her job duties came an equally impressive expansion of credentials.
When Owensby started with the city, she had just completed her bachelor’s degree in mass communications. She initially thought her formal education was finished.
It wasn’t.
After discovering a passion for economic development, she completed a two-year certification program through the University of Georgia, becoming a certified economic developer in August 2019. Two months later, she earned her downtown development certification.
That same year, she enrolled at the University of North Georgia to pursue a Master of Public Administration, graduating in 2023 after navigating coursework during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her professional development didn’t stop there. Owensby earned zoning inspector certification through the International Code Council, was selected as a fellow in the Appalachian Regional Commission’s prestigious Appalachian Leadership Institute — a 10-month program that included 40 economic development professionals from 13 Appalachian states — and is now completing her Certified Public Manager credential through a national consortium partnered with UGA.
She also plans to sit for the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) exam in the near future.
“I’m a lifelong learner,” she said. “The older I get, the more I like to learn new things and take on new challenges.”
Launching Civic Enhancement Strategies
In February 2023, Owensby founded Civic Enhancement Strategies, a consulting firm born out of requests from other communities seeking her expertise in downtown development, grant writing, and strategic planning.
What began as informal assistance on evenings and weekends turned into a structured consulting practice after encouragement from a fellow mayor who pointed out she should be charging for her time.
“It’s taken off,” she said. “It’s pretty busy.”
A Decision Made Carefully
Despite receiving previous job offers — some with significant pay increases — Owensby remained loyal to Cornelia.
“I love Cornelia. I live in Cornelia. Cornelia is my town,” she said.
Her decision to accept a position with White County was not made lightly. Conversations about the opportunity began in October, but she did not make her decision until early February.
“It took a lot of prayer,” she said, noting discussions with her husband, family, and close friends. “My quality of life is much more important than any paycheck will ever be.”
Now that her children are older and more independent, Owensby felt the timing was right to take on a new challenge.
A Shift from Doing to Leading
In White County, Owensby will transition from managing a wide-ranging community development portfolio to serving in a more concentrated leadership role.
At the county level, she will focus on building, planning, economic development, and select grant initiatives — without the added layers of downtown management or Main Street programming.
“It’s a little less of the technical work and a little more of a leadership role,” she said. “Instead of being the team, I’ll be leading the team.”
Her focus will include strengthening internal processes, creating standard operating procedures, and helping her staff operate more efficiently.
Preparing the Next Chapter in Cornelia
As she prepares to depart, Owensby has worked to ensure a smooth transition.
Her responsibilities have been divided among several staff members. Planning and zoning duties will eventually be handled by a newly hired zoning administrator. Main Street and economic development responsibilities have shifted to existing leadership. Housing programs and other initiatives have been reassigned.
She has meticulously organized both physical and digital files, categorizing projects into clearly defined areas — planning and zoning, economic development, grants, housing, special events, and more.
“The framework has been built out,” she said. “As long as they follow the right steps, they should be fine.”
A Decade of Impact
Over the past 10 years, Owensby helped shape Cornelia’s downtown growth, expanded economic development initiatives, secured grants, strengthened housing programs, and built a professional structure that will continue beyond her tenure.
While Cornelia will undoubtedly miss her energy and leadership, Owensby leaves with gratitude — and a readiness for what comes next.
“It’s a new challenge,” she said. “And I like new challenges.”
As she begins her next chapter in White County, Owensby carries with her a decade of experience — and a clear passion for community development that continues to grow.
