Kia Georgia CEO Stuart Countess Headlines Partnership Gwinnett Movers & Makers Awards
Thursday, May 14th, 2026
Partnership Gwinnett hosted the annual Movers and Makers Awards on May 1 at The Westin Atlanta Gwinnett. The event celebrated the companies and leaders driving innovation and growth across Gwinnett’s advanced manufacturing and supply chain sectors while strengthening the workforce pipeline and contributing to Gwinnett’s competitive advantage.
This year’s program featured keynote remarks from Stuart Countess, President and CEO of Kia Georgia. Countess leads all operational facets of Kia Georgia’s West Point facility, which employs more than 3,200 team members and has the capacity to produce 350,000 vehicles annually. Since joining the company in 2008, he has played a critical role in developing and implementing The Kia Way and the Georgia Production System, helping position the facility as a model for operational excellence in the automotive industry.
In his remarks, Countess shared insights on the importance of precision, workforce development, and continuous innovation in modern manufacturing, offering attendees a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to compete on a global scale.
In Gwinnett County, advanced manufacturing and supply chain management account for more than 10% of all industries, with more than 4,600 companies and nearly 100,000 employees contributing to the region’s economic strength.
This annual event also recognized and celebrated outstanding achievements through seven award categories:
Most Valuable Provider Award – Renova Technology
Corporate Citizen Award –WEG Electric
Supply Chain Pioneer Award (2 categories)
Small Business (1–39 employees) – Slip Robotics
Large Business (40+ employees) – Keurig Dr. Pepper
Manufacturer of the Year Award (3 categories)
Small Business (1–39 employees) – Thermacell Repellents
Medium Business (40–99 employees) – Rehrig Pacific Co.
Large Business (100+ employees) – Ricoh Electronics, Inc.
“The companies we celebrate through the Movers & Makers Awards are not only driving economic growth, but they are also shaping the future of our target industries right here in Gwinnett,” said Kevin Carmichael, Senior Vice President of Economic Development at Partnership Gwinnett. “From advanced manufacturing to supply chain innovation, these leaders are helping us compete on a global stage, and we are proud to champion their impact.”
For more information about Partnership Gwinnett and its economic development initiatives, visit PartnershipGwinnett.com.
