Director of Workforce hired to help Hyundai, existing industries find laborers in region

The biggest question lingering in the minds of residents in and around Bryan County is how Hyundai Motor Group will find 8,000-plus workers in the next two years to operate the EV battery plant.

Last spring, HMA, along with Gov. Brian Kemp and local officials announced the Korean automaker would invest $5.5 billion for the factory. It is the state’s biggest economic project to date, but it will take a massive workforce to get the plant going.

Enter Maria Whitfield. The Savannah Joint Development Authority announced her hiring last month as the Director of Workforce. She will help scout talent for Hyundai’s labor needs and existing industries in Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham and Effingham County.

No pressure.

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Whitfield brings nearly three decades of experience in human resources spanning multiple states and counties in Georgia, including Liberty and Chatham. The Savannah JDA appointed Wadley Donovan Gutshaw Consulting, LLC to handle a workforce study and comprehensive plan in an effort to combat labor supply challenges in the region, but they don’t have much time. The plant is expected to open in 2025.

The clock is ticking.

A massive undertaking

Just four days into her position, Whitfield hit the ground running, visiting Bryan, Bulloch and Effingham County to learn more about existing industries and what their needs are from a labor standpoint.

“We want to listen to all of our industrial partners so that we can see because we don't know what it is yet,” said Whitfield. “We know there's going to be big impact but we've got to listen to our industry first.”

Ironically enough, Whitfield was on the other side of the fence not too long ago, wondering what Hyundai’s impact would do for companies like Norma Precision, her most recent gig where she served as Director of Human Resources.

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“I get to share the expertise I've learned over the last several years here with my colleagues now in the area and with all of the HR professionals in the industry and I'm hoping that I can be the bridge because I was on the other side of the table,” said Whitfield. “I was in fear of the big company coming to the area also.”

To say Whitfield’s position is imperative is an understatement. The plant is sure to bring dozens of suppliers and vendors in the years to come and those facilities will need bodies to operate them. On top of that, she is responsible for supporting the needs of existing industries within the Savannah JDA.

Anna Chafin, CEO of the Bryan County Development Authority, said her job is not a short-term quick fix.

“I think this is a sustained initiative that we are going to need to make sure is in place for the indefinite future,” said Chafin.

‘Up your game’

Savannah Economic Development Authority president and CEO Trip Tollison did not hold back when asked what barriers are in place to ensure companies like Gulfstream and JCB do not see a mass exodus in their workforce.

“I tell everybody, no matter what the business is, it's a competitive environment and everybody needs to up their game,” said Tollison. “If you want to keep people at company X and you don't want them to go to the other company, you gotta up your game.”

Chafin took a softer approach in her response.

“Part of Maria's role is to help existing industries that have already invested in the region so she can immediately help them with creative solutions to source employees right now and in the future once Hyundai comes online and it becomes even more competitive,” said Chafin.

Where will the talent come from?

Few talks have been shared about workforce development but it is going to take all hands on deck to support the plant. This includes high school and college graduates.

The team will rely on career pathways in all four counties - everyone from Effingham College and Career Academy to Woodville-Thompkins Institute.

“She’ll be doing those partnership meetings and making sure that those relationships are there, that the training opportunities are there in partnership with Hyundai because we have to know what they want,” said Tollison. “All of that is coming.”

Chafin pointed to the workforce study as the driving force behind what the Savannah JDA needs to rely on. “I think the study is going to help guide and direct how we better engage with the K-12 system because I think that is certainly an area of opportunity for us to grow some partnerships,” said Chafin.

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College graduates are needed to fill unemployment gaps and Whitfield is looking to build relationships at colleges to find talent.

“We're going to be partnering with all the local colleges so that we can help grow that talent and maybe get them to some of these companies and not just Hyundai,” said Whitfield. “There's other companies that sorely need the talent that's coming out of the schools.”

Tollison referred to Whitfield as their “workforce quarterback,” but luckily, she will not have to go at it alone. Part of Hyundai’s incentive package requires the Georgia Department of Labor to oversee hiring.

“They'll be leading the initiative to work with Hyundai directly and then Maria can provide support to Hyundai and the suppliers and to our existing industries that are already here,” said Chafin.

Changing the narrative

The plant is a welcome addition for many, but some parents scoff at the idea of their children working in a factory. Whitfield is on a mission to normalize industrial jobs, calling them careers, some of which come with a big paycheck.

“I think we need to really focus on making manufacturing cool,” said Whitfield.

“I know how great these careers can be for people that are in the area. I don't think parents are encouraging kids these days to go into manufacturing. So we need to change that narrative in the area. I have had the time of my life working in HR and I can tell you, I see what the salaries are, I see what companies are doing to recruit talent and also maintain and retain all of those employees and engage them. So I think it's very interesting to continually connect with younger employees and let the workforce speak to the younger workforce so they can tell them about these great jobs in manufacturing. The Savannah area is booming and I'm very excited to join the team.”

Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Maria Whitfield hired as Director of Workforce as Hyundai comes to GA