Rachel serves as director of business development (consultant recruitment) at the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) by driving business attraction initiatives and working with state and local officials, utilities and community foundations to communicate strengths and resources to companies and consultants seeking locations for new facilities within the nine-parish Capital Region.
Prior to working at BRAC, Rachel was an account executive at KTAL News Channel 6-NBC in Shreveport, LA.
Rachel is a member of the Southern Economic Development Council, Louisiana Industrial Executives Association and the Commercial Investment Division of the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors.
Rachel earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing from Louisiana Tech University. Rachel is also a graduate of Donaldson Real Estate School and earned her certification for Economic Development Finance Professional from the National Development Council.
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Randy Kelley has been the executive director of Three Rivers Planning and Development District, Inc. in Pontotoc, Mississippi since 1976. The PUL Alliance and subsequent Toyota industry moving into Northeast Mississippi is perhaps the best, but only one of the many examples, in which Three Rivers and Randy have served to facilitate partnerships, cooperation and collaboration among a variety of institutions and agencies in Northern Mississippi. Three Rivers Planning & Development District, Inc. operates multiple corporations including: Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority, Three Rivers Local Development Company, Inc.(SBA), Three Rivers Community Development Entity (U.S. Treasury), Three Rivers Area Agency on Aging, P.U.L. Alliance, G.M.&O. Rails to Trails Recreational District of North Mississippi and the Mississippi Partnership Workforce Development, Inc. to name a few.
He is a past president of NADO, served as MAPDD president, has testified before Congress on Rural Development issues multiple times and served on countless committees, boards and task forces in his tenure at Three Rivers.
Randy has received the NADO’s J. Roy Fogle Award for Outstanding Executive Director, NADO President Award for outstanding leadership, ARC Federal Co-Chairman award for outstanding Economic Development activities, U.S. Small Business Administration Outstanding SBA Lender in Mississippi and Regional Rehabilitation Center Red Raspberry Humanitarian award.
Randy attended the University of Mississippi and earned a Bachelor of Arts in banking and finance and a Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning.
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David Swenson serves as director for York County Economic Development where he leads the business recruiting, existing industry and targeted marketing efforts for York County, SC. David works directly with the York County Council, the York County Economic Development Board, local governments within York County, the South Carolina Department of Commerce and other state agencies, local businesses, utility providers and the general public. David is very engaged in international and domestic marketing and business development efforts with a strategic focus on assisting site location consultants, manufacturers of transportation equipment, aerospace products, advanced materials, machine manufacturers as well as warehouse and distribution companies, corporate headquarters and back office operations.
David joined York County Economic Development in 2014 after spending close to eight years leading the Charlotte Regional Partnership’s business development and marketing efforts for the 16 county region. Prior to his time in Charlotte, David spent 11 years in local and regional economic development in the Southeast and in site location consulting at Fluor Daniel Corporation.
David holds professional memberships in the South Carolina Economic Developers Association, the Southern Economic Development Council and the International Economic Development Council.
David holds an Master of Science degree in economic development from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Bachelor of Science degree in economic geography from the University of North Dakota. David is also a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma and earned his Certified Economic Developer (CEcD).
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Chris Camacho is the President & CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council where he manages the organization’s domestic and international strategies to build a more diverse economy in Metropolitan Phoenix.
Prior to becoming President, Chris was the executive Vice President of business development where he oversaw business development efforts with particular expertise in renewable energy, emerging technology, tax policy and international economic development. Chris managed the domestic and international strategies in attracting new industry to the market.
Chris has held leadership roles in several strategic councils within the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. Chris also served as president of the Arizona Association of Economic Development (AAED) and has been named Economic Developer of the Year. He is involved in community non-profits including Chicanos Por La Casa, and sits on the boards for the Arizona Business Education Coalition, the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Valley of the Sun United Way and the International Economic Development Council.
Chris received his Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Southern Illinois University and his Masters in Public Administration Public Policy, and Tax Analysis. Chris also obtained his Economic Development Certification from the University of Oklahoma.
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Courtney Ross is the Chief Economic Development Officer for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. Courtney is ascending to that role at a time when Nashville’s economy is creating jobs at an almost unrivaled pace, helping elevate Nashville’s national profile to record heights.
Prior to being promoted to Chief Economic Development Officer, Courtney worked as the Vice President of Existing Business, which means she was in charge of helping grow businesses already located in the Nashville market. Courtney also was an associate at an economic development marketing firm and a director of corporate recruitment for the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce – a city many Nashville leaders use as a yardstick to gauge their growth.
Courtney enjoys many different things outside of her work including spending time with her husband and two children and traveling.
Courtney graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
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Michael Langley is the founding CEO of GREATER MSP, the Minneapolis Saint Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership. GREATER MSP leads global promotion, regional strategy, and project management for economic growth and job creation in the Minneapolis Saint Paul region, with 3.5 million residents and a Gross Metropolitan Product of over $230 billion. He brings years of experience to the role as a widely recognized economic development strategist who has also led successful regional economic development organizations in Florida and Pennsylvania.
Michael’s award winning work as a practitioner includes his leadership as CEO of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, often regarded as a globally-leading organizational model for regional economic development, regional advocacy, and public policy research.
Since the formation of GREATER MSP in 2011, the Minneapolis Saint Paul region has achieved strong job growth and record unemployment, and has been recognized widely for its diverse and resilient economy. The Atlantic recently published an article citing “The Minneapolis Miracle” and CNBC’s 2015 “Best States for Business” ranks Minnesota #1. The Greater MSP led “Minnesota Medical Manufacturing Partnership” was also awarded the “Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership” (IMCP) designation from US Department of Commerce in July 2015.
Prior to becoming an economic development practitioner, Michael led a successful corporate career, spent primarily in the technology sector working in leadership positions for a number of Westinghouse/CBS divisions, including serving as President and CEO of Westinghouse Audio Intelligence Devices, Inc., a world leader in wireless surveillance technology.
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Mike also earned a MS in information systems from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He served as a Navy pilot with more than 5,000 hours of flight and crew time on surveillance and intelligence missions worldwide and as a technology analyst on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations. He has also been awarded an honorary doctorate in Humanities by American Intercontinental University for his work in community improvement.
Michael’s community service includes leadership on the Board of the Minnesota Orchestra, the Metropolitan State University Foundation Board of Trustees, the Super Bowl LII Host Committee Executive Board, the NAIOP Board of Directors, and the Board of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).
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Laura Brandt is the Director of Economic Development for the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation and has more than 30 years of experience in economic development, community organization and marketing. Laura assists with prospects, research and business recruitment and retention.
Since joining the Metro Denver EDC, Laura has worked on a variety of office and industrial projects including Vestas, DaVita, Lockheed Martin, Fidelity, Ardent Mills and Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Company.
Prior to joining the Metro Denver EDC, Laura was an Economic Development Specialist for the City of Lakewood for six years. While at Lakewood, she coordinated the creation of two urban renewal districts and the relocation of more than 50 businesses that were displaced by the $750 million Belmar redevelopment.
Laura served three terms as a member of the City Council in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Platteville.
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Jerry Mallot is executive vice president of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce and president of JAXUSA Partnership, formerly Cornerstone. Jerry directs a staff of 12 in the areas of business development, international, workforce and research. Jerry led the formation of a seven-county economic development program to expand high wage jobs in northeast Florida. During his tenure, Jacksonville has seen its greatest number of new and expanded companies, as well as new jobs created, in the city’s history.
Prior to coming to Jacksonville in January of 1994, Jerry was senior vice president of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and executive director of the Tampa Bay Partnership, a six-county regional economic development program. Jerry served as Mayor Alvin Brown’s economic development advisor in 2011 and 2012.
Jerry is a member of the Executive Advisory Board of Jacksonville University School of Business, THE PLAYERS Council, Community Connections and the Gator Bowl Association. He is a past president of Leadership Jacksonville and the Florida Economic Development Council as well as the World Trade Center Association of Florida. Jerry has served on the Board of Enterprise Florida, the Florida Association of Colleges and Universities, Visit Jacksonville and the World Affairs Council. He has been named the Economic Development Professional of the Year in both Florida and Kansas. He has won awards such as the Northeast Florida Business Hall of Fame, Ultimate CEO by Jacksonville Business Journal and Florence Davis Community Achievement Award from Community Connections.
Jerry received a Bachelor’s degree in business and a Master’s degree in economics from Wichita State University. Jerry has also earned the Certified Economic Developer and Certified Chamber Executive designations.
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Ann Marie Baxter is the Director of the Logistics, Energy, Agribusiness, and Food Processing (LEAF) industry team within the Global Commerce Division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD).
Annie has served twice with GDEcD, most recently as Senior Project Manager for the Aerospace, Defense, and Advanced Manufacturing (ADAM) team and previously as a Statewide Project Manager. She has assisted companies such as Caterpillar; Keurig Green Mountain; Systemax; Bed, Bath and Beyond; and King’s Hawaiian with locations. Prior to her times with the GDEcD, Annie worked for the Electric Cities of Georgia and the Albany Dougherty Economic Development Commission.
Annie is a former Board Member with the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) and former Advisory Director of its 2014 Future Leaders Class. She also chairs the Young Professionals Committee of the Georgia Economic Developers Association and serves on the 2015 4-H Foundation Gala Committee.
Annie is a graduate of the University of Georgia with degrees in Spanish and Public Relations. In her spare time she enjoys playing tennis with her ALTA team and enjoying live music as often as possible.
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Neal Wade currently serves as director of the Economic Development Academy at the University of Alabama, where he is working to promote and develop strategic partnerships within the university throughout Alabama and the southeast U.S. to strengthen the environment necessary to grow and expand quality jobs and economies. The Academy will prepare emerging and mid-level professionals in the broad field of economic development. In addition, Neal and others are working on an Advanced Certificate for Economic Development that will be offered through a multi-university collaborative.
Neal has more than 25 years of experience in economic development at the private, state and local levels. Prior to joining the University of Alabama, Neal was the director of the Alabama Development Office (now the Department of Commerce) and served as the state’s chief economic developer for eight years. He was also the first president/CEO of the private Economic Development Partnership of Alabama and executive director at the Bay County, FL Economic Development Alliance.
Neal serves as chairman of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama and chairman of the four-state (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida) Aerospace Alliance, the 4th largest aerospace corridor in the world.
Neal received his Bachelor of Arts in history from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.
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