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viously served in the U.S. Navy as an officer for 14 years, and ultimately, retired as a lieutenant commander in 1974. After retiring, he worked in business, serving as a regional vice president of the ITT Corporation and eventually creating his own business to help guide fellow entrepreneurs.

He joined the Montgomery County Development Authority in 2007, and served as the Authority’s executive director until April 2025. He is responsible for helping to attract and negotiate with several businesses to settle in the area, including Gay Oil Company, East Georgia Healthcare Center, B & T Food Fresh, ACE Hardware, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, La Cabana d’Isabel, Mount Liquor, Automated Storage Solutions, and more.

At the event, Montgomery County Development Authority Chairman Arren Moses presented Filippone with a plaque thanking him for his service to the County. After receiving this gift, Fillippone turned to address the attendees.

“In the 17th century, there was a cleric and a poet from England named [ John] Donne. He coined a phrase that I’ve known for a number of years and it has stuck with me: ‘No man is an island.’ This is a perfect example of that,” he emphasized. “When I got here 20 years ago, I got to meet Michele Johnson and Debbie Evans initially; then, I got involved with the Development Authority, and I didn’t quite know what to expect. I had always been in business after I got out of the Navy, and I was thinking, “Okay, this can’t be that hard to do.’ I got involved and it was a lot harder than I was thinking it was going to be.”

Filippone continued, “The reason that I use that phrase is because all of you – whether you know it or not – have affected me positively throughout the years. It’s simple: going to Friendly Gus in the morning and having a cup of coffee, and having someone say, ‘Here’s a cup of coffee, nice job bringing in the medical facility,’ or ‘We really needed that Mexican restaurant.’ Those are the kinds of things that prompted me to do more and more and more.”

“I’m proud of what we have been able to do,’ he reflected. He thanked Mount Vernon Mayor Joey Fountain for partnering with him on behalf of the city, and stated that Fountain had helped to guide and support him throughout his endeavors. “I had no clue how to do it, and we had very little money other than the money we were funded. He stepped up and I appreciate that,” he said.

Fountain also addressed the crowd, as he shared his admiration for Filippone. “He did a great job with the city and the county. We’ve pulled off some great projects and have one in the works now that is probably going to be bigger than anything we’ve ever done,” he shared as he presented Filippone with a plaque.

Fountain emphasized the importance of investing in the Development Authority, as he reminded attendees that Governor Brian Kemp is a supporter of rural areas. “Everyone has to work together and you have to invest in the development authority,” he said.

The remainder of the celebration was spent sharing stories and well wishes for Filippone, as new Montgomery County Development Authority Executive Director John Michael Stanley now leads the agency.

WORKING TOGETHER – Both retired Montgomery County Development Authority Executive Director Joe Filippone and Mount Vernon Mayor Joey Fountain emphasized the businesses which they had been able to attract to the area through a collaborate effort. (Shown) Fountain (right) presents Filippone (left) with a plaque.Photo by Makaylee Randolph