The Business Development Board of Martin County proudly announces that William T. Corbin has been hired as its new executive director.
A certified economic developer, Corbin has helped stimulate hundreds of millions of dollars of diversified commercial development in various municipalities—most recently in Georgia, including the cities of Duluth and Norcross, as well as Clayton County.
“I’m honored to be chosen for this leadership role, and I’m excited to live and work in Martin County and learn more about its legacy industries such as aerospace, marine, and advanced manufacturing,” says Corbin. “I’ve always loved boating and flying, so this BDB opportunity is appealing. I hope to apply my insights into building economic ecosystems, helping strengthen existing industries, and assisting companies in their expansion plans.”
Corbin distinguished himself among a field of more than 90 applicants, which the BDB selection committee pored over for three months. “We’re extremely excited to welcome William to this role of executive director for the Business Development Board,” says Susan Rabinowitz, president of the BDB. “Our selection committee deserves tremendous credit for carefully vetting an array of compelling candidates to find William—who’s extremely qualified to step into the role right away and make meaningful contributions.”
While he got his start as an economic development practitioner in Miami-Dade County at The Beacon Council, Corbin’s experience spans communities of a variety of sizes and dynamics. Clayton County is home to 300,000 people while Norcross and Duluth have populations of 18,000 and 32,000, respectively, showing Corbin’s skills shaping projects to fit the characters and personalities of each unique setting.
In Duluth, he helped guide the planning and development of Parsons Alley, a 2-acre downtown redevelopment site featuring commercial and retail investments that won awards for its design, functionality and impact. In Norcross, Corbin’s leadership helped attract more than $500 million in total investment. He also helped increase the city’s communication and engagement with its small business and entrepreneur community through initiatives such as grant programs and partnerships with local organizations that provide access to capital and technical assistance services.
Further, Corbin led a workforce development project, among other achievements, that bridged connections between businesses and job seekers during the pandemic, strengthening the labor market. “The resume of achievements that William has built up is impressive by any standard but even more so considering that he’s relatively early in his career,” says Dan Hudson, interim executive director who came aboard to helm the organization through a leadership transition. “His experience working with communities of all sizes and the approach he brings to each environment speaks to how attentive he is to public involvement and finding solutions that are rightsized for each location.”
Martin County’s distinctive quality of life appealed to Corbin, 40, and his family. While considering other opportunities across South Florida, he and his wife, Jonide, researched and even visited the area on vacation with their two girls, ages 5 and 7, and two-year-old son. They appreciated that Martin County offered a peaceful respite from a big city pace yet easy access to major metropolitan areas to the north and south. “There’s a definite quality of life on display here and it comes with a community and leadership that has embraced managed growth in a fashion that’s responsible, responsive to the residents and protective of such a beautiful place,” he says. “I like the laidback nature of the community and the fact that there are a lot of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. I like how things are a little bit slower. It’s a great place to raise a family and grow roots.”
