The Business Development Board is the official Economic Development Organization for Martin County and proud partner of SelectFlorida.Martin County is located in southeastern Florida, immediately north of Palm Beach County and south of St. Lucie County.As leader of the organization, I am a champion for local businesses, entrepreneurs and talent, with the goal of helping to strengthen Martin County's overall economy.My top priority is nurturing and supporting the growth of existing industries in the county as well as attracting investment and well-paying jobs to the community.

Norcross is a city in Gwinnett County, Georgia. It is a suburb located immediately northeast of Atlanta.My role was to help spur investments in the city that create jobs, increase the tax base, and promote the growth of the local economy, while enhancing the overall quality of life for both residents and visitors.I was responsible for managing the city's economic development programs and services, including:-Directing and conducting Business Retention & Expansion efforts (BRE) -->Supervising and directing Business Development Manager-Helping develop, update and coordinate city master plans and future land use/zoning strategy-Overseeing commercial and residential development efforts throughout the city-Acting as Staff Liaison to – and Subject Matter Expert for – city’s two development authorities -Supervise execution of programmatic efforts on behalf of city business owners and households -->Norcross Small Business Grant Program ($600,000) -->Norcross Nonprofit Grant Program ($480,000)ACCOMPLISHMENTS-Responsible for helping to stimulate more than $750 million of total investment, including commercial restaurant/retail projects and 2,500+ units of residential development across the price point spectrum, ranging from single family homes and townhomes to multifamily apartments as well as affordable housing and “missing middle” housing stock.-Helped coordinate and complete several major master planning and strategic economic/community development efforts, including the development and implementation of a Target Industry Study, a downtown Master Plan, and the city’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan.-Increased engagement with the local Hispanic business community through a financial partnership with Prospera, an organization that specializes in providing bilingual business assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs trying to establish or expand their business (Hispanics represent the largest race/ethnicity amongst residents, at 35%).

Help promote and protect the city through the use of planning and development practices while providing professional and efficient customer service.Responsible for overseeing the following tasks:-Management of building construction-Comprehensive Plan amendments-Current and long-range planning-Design and construction of grant-funded projects-Land Development-Permitting-Zoning

Clayton County is located directly south of the City of Atlanta. The Development Authority is Clayton County’s economic development organization.My primary responsibility was to help identify and manage activities involving community and economic development in addition to business recruitment, retention and expansion efforts.I was also responsible for managing various special projects for the Development Authority, including research, marketing, grant programs and revitalization/redevelopment activities throughout the County.ACCOMPLISHMENTS-Conceived/developed the philosophy and strategy behind staff recommendations for Clayton County’s potential new incentivized zoning overlay district.Located within an important future redevelopment area of the region, the proposed zoning overlay featured design standards that aimed to satisfy the developer community while encouraging the type of growth desired by county leadership.

Duluth is a city in Gwinnett County, Georgia.I worked closely with my colleagues in Marketing as well as Planning & Zoning in order to develop and implement economic development plans, programs and services for the City of Duluth.As part of my job I was in constant communication with developers, brokers, and company representatives in order to help businesses locate or expand within the city.I also played an integral role in guiding the successful execution of major commercial and residential projects throughout the city.ACCOMPLISHMENTS-Project lead for the development of a 22-acre, $53 million walkable residential community in downtown Duluth, which connects with the city’s restaurant/retail district (134 units – 95 townhomes; 39 single family homes).Project scope included full range of responsibilities, from publishing RFP and solicitation of developers to execution of Purchase & Sale Agreement and overseeing architectural design, site plan and stormwater-Assisted in oversight of redevelopment of a 2-acre downtown site into a $13 million, modern commercial restaurant/retail district that features more than 30,000 square feet of space and a public plaza.The award-winning project, Parsons Alley, is an example of a municipality playing the unconventional role of lead financier as well as developer.

The Beacon Council is Miami-Dade County's official economic development partnership.I managed and directed the collection, analysis and reporting of data and information, as well as assisted with project management for the recruitment, retention, and expansion of businesses in Miami-Dade County.I also conducted economic development strategic planning by assisting the coordination of One Community One Goal (OCOG), Miami-Dade County's economic and community development strategy.ACCOMPLISHMENTS-Successful creation and leadership of the New Leaders Taskforce (NLT), in order to develop and execute workforce development strategies to cultivate a vibrant and growing community of talented young professionals.

I helped managed and coordinate the initial one-year research and planning phase of the OCOG economic and community development strategy.

Market Street works with cities, communities, regions, and states across the country to help develop and implement economic strategies and plans.I conducted comprehensive quantitative and qualitative research and analysis, along with proposal development and Powerpoint presentations for prospective and existing clients.ACCOMPLISHMENTS-Author of Economic Development White Paper (New Realities of Economic Development) to give clients a comprehensive overview of best economic development practices for their strategic planning processes.

I assisted the development of the DeKalb Life Science Strategy to recruit and grow bioscience companies and encourage capital investment in academic research facilities and laboratory space inside the county.

I researched and collected data and statistics for Partnership Gwinnett, the Chamber’s award-winning 5-year, $10 million economic initiative plan for growth and development in the County.I also wrote and proofread copy for economic development brochures and marketing pieces.