Craver resigns to join RDC

He will join the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission in Athens where he will work with governments in its 12-county area — which includes Jackson County.

His resignation is effective Friday, Sept. 18.

“My decision to leave the Commerce Downtown Development Authority was made after a long and careful consideration of all factors affecting the organization, my family and my career,” said Craver in his letter of resignation. “While I have enjoyed very much working under your direction, I now find that I have an opportunity to further develop my career. I thank you for the training that I have received under your supervision. It is largely due to the excellent experience I gained working for the Commerce Downtown Development Authority that I am now able to pursue this growth opportunity.”

Craver and his wife, Rebecca, a Commerce schoolteacher, will remain in the community. They’re expecting their first child in late December.
Craver, 29, will serve as the project manager in the RDC’s Department of Local Government Services where he will help local governments with grant applications and administer with local governments projects already awarded.

Craver called his stint in Commerce “the most rewarding position ever held in my professional career.”

“I love the job here,” he said. “Getting to know the people and being able to affect change in the community you live in are amazing attributes of this job. This (the new job) is an opportunity to expand my knowledge base. That excited me.”

“We certainly hate to lose him but we’re proud he’s advancing his career and extremely proud he’s going to continue to live in Commerce,” commented Mayor Charles L. Hardy Jr. “This is certainly not the first offer he’s had.”