The Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC), North America’s oldest and largest regional economic development association, will welcome newly elected leaders to the 17-state Board of Directors in 2024.

New State Directors and Alternate Directors, elected by the Council's membership, include Jack Thomas (Arkansas State Director), Jason Wright (Alabama Alternate Director), Zach Gilmore (Florida Alternate Director), Missy Kendrick (Georgia State Director), Josh Fenn (Georgia Alternate Director), James Oltman (Kansas Alternate Director), Jim DeCesare (Kentucky Alternate Director), Mandi Mitchell (Louisiana State Director), Ashley Llewellyn (Louisiana Alternate Director), Sara Doss (Mississippi Alternate Director), Dr. Pete Fullerton (Missouri State Director), Uconda Dunn (North Carolina State Director), Oppie Jordan (North Carolina Alternate Director), Andrea Anderson (Oklahoma State Director), Kreg Haney (Oklahoma Alternate Director), Kellen Riley (South Carolina Alternate Director), Edward Burch (Tennessee State Director), Lindsay Frilling (Tennessee Alternate Director), Chris Bontrager (Texas Alternate Director), Joe Hines (Virginia Alternate Director), Terrell Ellis (West Virginia State Director), Steven Leyh (West Virginia Alternate Director). State Directors are slated to serve terms of 2 years, and Alternate Directors each serve 1-year terms. All newly elected Directors will begin terms on January 1, 2024.

Brian Gwin, Senior Industrial Development Manager at Norfolk Southern, was elected Chairman of the SEDC Board of Directors. Upon election, Gwin stated, "I appreciate the trust and support of the SEDC Board of Directors in electing me to this important position, and I look forward to continuing and expanding upon the great work of the entire team in 2024. SEDC is embarking on an era of growth with almost 1300 members from 700 economic development organizations in our 17-state region and will launch a major Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Initiative in 2024 to continue our leadership in the American South. I also look forward to seeing economic development leaders at our 2024 Annual Conference in the beautiful and historic city of Savannah, Georgia."

2024 SEDC Chairman Brian Gwin addresses Council at 2023 SEDC Annual Conference

Joining Gwin on the SEDC Executive Committee are newly elected 1st Vice-Chair Jana Dyke of Albany-Dougherty (Georgia) Economic Development Commission, 2nd Vice-Chair Tim Weston of Yates Construction, and Secretary-Treasurer Joe Hines of Timmons Group. Scott Poag, W&A Engineering, upon completion of a historic term, will assume the Immediate Past-Chairman position. Further, Chris Masingill of St. Tammany (Louisiana) Corporation, Courtland Robinson of Duke Energy, and Richard Blackwell of Agracel were elected to the Executive Committee to serve as Regional Directors, representing the Council’s three geographic sectors. Executive Officers will assume respective roles on January 1, 2024.

Newly elected leaders join the following professionals on the SEDC Board of Directors: Bethany Shockney (Alabama State Director), Kelley Smallridge (Florida State Director), Zach McHatton (Kansas State Director), Rene DeBerdt (Kentucky State Director), Meryl Fisackerly (Mississippi State Director), and Adam Gawarecki (Texas State Director). “SEDC members set the global economic development standard as they nurture iconic brands, support emerging technologies that are redefining markets, and develop world-class business environments and opportunities in our communities," stated Council President Matt Tackett. "Our Board reflects the sophisticated Council network that has built the world’s 3rd largest and the best-positioned economy. We congratulate incoming Chairman Gwin and Directors and thank our leadership for an impactful commitment to accelerated progress in the American South.”