Chris Hardin is a high-energy person who makes a lot of great things happen in Suwanee. His experience in economic development and growth helps our city continue to be a top place to live, work and play.
What inspired you or led you to your current career?
I was born and raised in Kennesaw, Georgia, and attended North Cobb High School. With a strong desire to help people and serve the public good, I earned my undergraduate and master’s degrees from The University of Georgia. I initially aspired to join the Secret Service.
During college, I gained valuable experience working with the Athens/Clarke County District Attorney’s office, the Oconee County Planning department, and the Athens/Clarke County department of Economic Development. However, after college, due to the Great Recession, I shifted my career into hospitality management, where I spent nearly 12 years successfully opening restaurants in Atlanta and Birmingham for Pappas Restaurants, Inc., while also working in banking.
In 2020, I decided to make a career change to align with my educational background and achieve a better work-life balance, especially after starting a family in 2018.
My journey with the City of Suwanee originally began in 2008 when I interned there during college. In 2020, I returned to Suwanee as the city’s Covid Administrator, helping to support businesses affected by the pandemic. At the end of 2020, I transitioned into the role of Economic Development Manager for the city. I focus on economic development initiatives throughout the entire city, and I serve as the city’s liaison to the Downtown Development Authority.
I find immense satisfaction in my work. Each day brings new challenges and learning opportunities, and I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible individuals in the city.
What is your favorite restaurant in Suwanee and what do you love there?
There are too many great restaurants in Suwanee to choose from! From Seaside Oyster Bar to Two Cities Pizza, from Beto’s Tacos to Cheeky’s Taqueria, it’s so hard to choose. In Suwanee, there’s a so many great food options with a wide range of choices. If you like breakfast, it’s either Café Amico or Jam + Toast. If it’s a nice romantic dinner you want, then it’s either unWine’d & Tap or Bottles and Bones. And what’s even better is that there are many more restaurants coming soon!
How long have you worked or lived in Suwanee?
I have worked for the City of Suwanee for almost three and a half years. I started as a contractor during the pandemic and transitioned into Economic Development in early 2021.
What has kept you here?
If you look at the city leadership from a staff perspective, we have many people who have held the same positions for over 20 years, and our mayor, who was born and raised here, has been involved with the city for 40-plus years. Collectively, there are 80 years of experience in our city staff. That steady leadership, along with an engaged citizenry, has been instrumental in Suwanee’s long-term success.
Who is the most interesting person you’ve met in Suwanee?
Jimmy Burnette. I’ve had the pleasure to get to know Mayor Burnette, or “Jimmy,” over the last few years and I’ve come to appreciate his love of history, especially Suwanee’s history, while also being so willing to embrace the future and not be stuck in old ways of doing things. Jimmy champions new, creative ideas and empowers people to be bold. He’s been incredibly instrumental in what Suwanee is today.
If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
I love tropical destinations and I would love to go to Bora Bora in the South Pacific. I think that it is important to get away and unplug whenever possible.
What is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?
E.T.
What advice would you give a crowd of people?
I recently spoke to the Suwanee Youth Leaders, and I said, don’t be afraid to fail and most importantly, know who you are. You can’t go out into the world and be something until you know who you are, and that journey takes time. Some of the best successes in life come from failure.
What is something on your bucket list?
I would like to visit every major league baseball stadium, from Yankee Field to Dodger Stadium. So far, I have only been to two!
What is your favorite music? What three groups would you like to see?
I am very eclectic — from country to Motown hits to ’90s hip-hop. I am a huge fan of Duke Ellington and I love old-school jazz and smooth jazz. Suwanee used to have jazz concerts (when I was an intern for the city), and they were awesome! I hope that we will do more in the future. I have not been to many live concerts, but I would love to see Boston, Styx, and Journey.
What local business makes you the most nostalgic about Suwanee?
It would be the Dillard’s BBQ site at the corner of Buford Highway and Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road. They had amazing Southern food. Also, knowing that one of the city’s oldest historic buildings, Pierce’s Corner, is going to be a restaurant soon, I think Old Town Suwanee is about to get a lot livelier.
Would you rather speak to a crowd of 500 or sing to a crowd of 50?
I would rather speak to a crowd of 500! I wouldn’t want to put those 50 people through my singing!
Choose anyone (past or present) with whom you would love to have lunch. Where would you go locally for this lunch?
Probably Ronald Reagan. When he thinks of that “Shining City on a Hill,” I want him to think of Suwanee! I’d take him to have a beer at StillFire, the city’s community meeting place!
What is your favorite thing about Suwanee?
It’s a great place that has a little something for everyone. Whether you want to try a wide range of restaurants, count your steps in one of the city’s parks or inter-connected trails, or visit Town Center to see what cool event is going on that day, Suwanee will never disappoint!
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I have found my passion in economic development; but, at first, I didn’t really know what that meant. I have come to realize that it means helping to create a sense of activity, purpose, and togetherness in an area and there are lots of ways to do that. I would love to stay in Suwanee and retire here. I would like to someday become a city manager. I love getting to know people, and given that I’m a connector by nature, I find immense satisfaction in helping people achieve their personal or professional goals. That’s what true leadership is, in my opinion.
What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
Before I got married and had kids, I liked to travel solo. In 2014, I set out on a journey to visit and explore New York City by myself — best experience EVER! I believe that traveling alone helps you become very confident and comfortable with who you are.
