Sylvia Breitbart
Program Manager, Woodstock Office of Economic Development
What is your background?
Shortly after moving here from California, I joined the city of Woodstock, serving in a customer service role in the utility billing office. In June 2018, I became Woodstock’s first citizen request for action coordinator. In spring 2019, I joined the Woodstock Office of Economic Development as program manager. Prior to public-sector work, I held management and sales positions in Fortune 500 companies in the telecommunications industry.
What is your main responsibility?
As program manager, I am responsible for developing, executing and documenting the city’s economic development programs. Under the leadership of Economic Development Director Brian Stockton, Woodstock’s economic development team improves our local economy and quality of life through organizations like the Woodstock Downtown Development Authority, IN WDSTK, Visit Woodstock GA, Woodstock Visitors Center and Made Mercantile. I serve as secretary of the Woodstock Downtown Development Authority and chief operations officer for IN WDSTK Inc., an investor-led 501(c)(6) organization charged with business development within the city.
While I manage the administration of each organization, I coordinate business development activities through IN WDSTK relating to business attraction, retention and expansion, as well as entrepreneurship, while building stronger working relationships at the state and local level.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up on the West Coast, in Fresno, California. I lived in California most of my life. After my parents passed and our three kids moved out, my husband and I decided to move to Georgia to be closer to his parents, Steven and Resa Breitbart. I always wanted to live on the East Coast, so I was very excited for our new venture. Now, six years later, I am established as an active member of a community I love, and our children have moved to Georgia, as well. We have five grandchildren who we get to see every day.
What do you love most about your job?
I get to work with people who have a major impact on our city. To be able to collaborate with city officials, department directors, local organizations and, especially, residents, to enhance our wonderful city, is a great honor. I am very proud to work for the city of Woodstock and even more proud to live in this great place, our city unexpected.
What’s the most unusual request you’ve gotten?
There are always “other duties as assigned” in our department, and two of the most unusual work experiences I had were completed in 2-inch heels and a dress. The first was removing Woodstock’s branding from the trolley when it was sold, and the other was fixing a plumbing issue in the basement of a historic, downtown building. After a few experiences like that, I now mostly wear pants and flat shoes to work.
What are your goals?
My professional goal is to continue to improve the economic well-being of our city and help make it the best place to live and do business in Georgia. My personal goal is to be more present in the moment and enjoy what’s happening now. We live in a fast-paced, high-speed world and have access to more information than we ever have before. This is wonderful, but I sometimes forget to stop and take it all in. There are a lot of wonderful moments I get to be a part of in this community. I want to fully appreciate living the city’s motto – Our Story Crafted By Your Dreams.
How do you like to spend free time?
Family is everything to me, so my free time is spent with my husband, Brian, our three amazing kids — Troy, Phillip and Noelle — and their families, which include our son-in-law, Jason, and five wonderful grandchildren — Brandon (7), Jackson (6), Addison (2), Hayven (3) and Mavery (1).
I also enjoy traveling and spending time with the friends we have made since our move to Woodstock in 2016. My husband and I have met so many great people and built so many new and amazing friendships that we will cherish forever. Woodstock is one of the best places to live in Georgia because of its people.
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