Catching up with Rope Roberts

Rope Roberts is recognized as a true pioneer in the development and execution of Georgia Power’s successful Economic Development efforts, which began in the 1990s and continues today. Even in retirement, he still has a hand in the growth and development of a number of communities across the state and in the Southeast through his consulting work.

Since he joined Georgia Power in 1979, Rope Roberts’ 44-year career included a number of influential roles for the company. The Augusta native began in 1979 as an Accounting clerk at Plant Vogtle and held several jobs there, including a position in the Procurement office, where he bought various equipment, tools, and supplies for the construction of the Units 1 & 2 nuclear reactors, and in Public Information, where he conducted several tours a day at the Vogtle Visitor’s Center and promoted the benefits of nuclear power to the public.  In 1989, he moved to north Georgia to manage the Terrora Visitors Center in Tallulah Falls. A few years later, he helped transition the center to become Tallulah Gorge State Park and the new Jane Hurt Yarn Visitors Center.

In 1995, he joined Economic Development as the Northern Regional Economic Development manager. Roberts was also a part of Operation Legacy, a joint program with the State of Georgia to utilize the 1996 Olympics to recruit international and domestic businesses to Georgia. During this time right before the Olympic Games, Rope and others hosted company executives from around the world, showcasing our business-friendly climate as well as what the state has to offer to businesses. That working partnership with the state is still going strong today and is credited with helping Georgia to become recognized as “the best state to do business in” for 12 years running by Area Development magazine. Rope retired in 2023.

We caught up with Rope during a recent visit to his current hometown of Clarkesville, Georgia.

What are you up to now?

My wife, Anne, and I enjoy traveling for fun, education, and the overall experience, and to visit our children and grandchildren. With seven children in five states and five grandchildren in three states, we get ample opportunities to travel. We recently returned from visiting our daughter in Kaui, Hawaii. We also recently visited another daughter in New Mexico, as well as our daughter and son in Colorado. Last year we enjoyed a month-long visit to Florence, Italy, where we enjoyed many different cities and experienced the food and wine. We also stayed at the villa of Massimo Bottura, the top chef in the world, and attended his inspiring cooking classes and meals!

I also consult part-time in Economic Development working with communities who need help in strategic planning, housing studies, economic impact studies, and executive mentoring. This can be especially rewarding because you see how positive economic development can change a community and impact families and individuals with paychecks. I also enjoy doing some executive coaching and mentoring, helping individuals get to the next level in their careers.

I try to stay healthy with weight training, cardio and yoga. I also stay pretty active within my community. I just completed a two-year term chairing my local economic development organization in Clarkesville, as well as chairing my local Homeowners Association for the past three years. I recently was appointed to the Clarkesville Downtown Development Authority to help with a new inn on the square. Anne and I also enjoy working with and volunteering in our downtown church, Grace-Calvary Episcopal Church.

Rope with wife, Ann, and children.

What was your proudest moment at Georgia Power?

I was fortunate to have been a part of so many special moments during my time with Georgia Power. These included watching former Georgia Power President Bill Dahlberg and former Georgia Governor Zell Miller shake hands overlooking the Tallulah Gorge to make it a state park and having input into the Jane Hurt Yarn Visitor Center design and exhibits for Georgia Power. Also seeing Vogtle Unit 1 come online after my work promoting nuclear power and training others to do the same was rewarding.

And I’m proud to have been a part of some really groundbreaking activities for Georgia Power and the state, including welcoming companies to see the 1996 Olympic games and establishing Georgia Power’s Good News Gathering annual event in 2007 for 26 counties in North Georgia during a downturn in the economy to share positive stories and best economic development practices, which has been replicated in other parts of Georgia.

Rope playing golf at Makai Golf Club in Princeville, Kauai.

Rope with youngest grandchild, Gaia, in Kauai, Hawaii.

What did you enjoy most about your time at Georgia Power?

I enjoyed working with the people the most, both in the company and in the communities. The work was challenging, enjoyable, and ever-changing, but the people made it fun. I was able to be in a position that constantly challenged me to keep learning all the time. It also helped me to transition to my consulting work after I retired. I still keep up with former co-workers in Economic Development -- Elyse Davis, Matt Forshee, Scott Purvis, Jennifer Zeller, and Andrew Carnes -- who took my position in Northeast Georgia. I also continue seeing former co-workers at the Georgia Economic Developers Association and the Northeast Georgia Ambassadors monthly lunches.

Rope and wife, Ann, with world renown chef Massimo Bottura at his villa kitchen in Modena, Italy.

Can you share your secrets to success?

I believe my love of people and my desire to help them realize their potential also has translated well into my Economic Development work over the years. I like seeing what’s possible. Bringing that potential out of people whom I coach and mentor is truly one of the things I enjoy doing the most. Conversely, I also love helping communities thrive around the state by encouraging them to pursue projects that are a win-win for the community and the residents they serve.

Rope and Ann at the top of the “Duomo” in Florence, Italy.

Looking back, would you have done anything differently?

I have enjoyed giving back to communities and mentoring younger people to help prepare them to take leadership roles. I wish that I had done more of this earlier in my career because it is so very rewarding.

Rope making pasta in Bologna, Italy.