2023 Committees

Click Here to download the volunteer form. Please send to matthew@sedc.org or fax to (404) 523-0406.

FDI Committee

Courtland Robinson
Courtland Robinson
MPA Business Recruitment Duke Energy
Chair
Matt Tackett
Matt Tackett
President Southern Economic Development Council
Staff Liason
Raul Peralta
Raul Peralta
Senior VP - Business Development ECS Southeast, LLP
Committee Member
James Blair
James Blair
Managing Director Navigator Consulting, LLC
Committee Member
Thomas Long
Thomas Long
CEcD Vice President Temple Economic Development Corporation
Committee Member
Charlton Whipple
Charlton Whipple
SCCED, MSED, MEDP VP, Director of Business Development ECS Southeast, LLP
Committee Member
Philip Land
Philip Land
Attorney Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.
Committee Member
Allison Gamez Pickerel
Allison Gamez Pickerel
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST Gray Construction
Committee Member
Ron Kitchens
Ron Kitchens
Chief Executive Officer Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce
Committee Member
Stevie Field-Chavez
Stevie Field-Chavez
Vice President, Sales GIS Planning, Inc
Committee Member
Terrell Ellis
Terrell Ellis
Executive Director Advantage Valley Inc.
Committee Member
Chris Knight
Chris Knight
COO WAVTEQ
Committee Member
James A. Chavez
James A. Chavez
President & CEO SC Power Team
Committee Member
Richard Blackwell
Richard Blackwell
SCCED, MPA, EcDMP Vice President of Development Agracel
Committee Member
Uconda Dunn
Uconda Dunn
Vice President, Business Development Greenville - ENC Alliance
Committee Member
Will Salters
Will Salters
MBA Principal | Director of Client Development & Marketing Terracon
Committee Member
Michael Guadarrama
Michael Guadarrama
Business Development Manager ARCO/Murray National Construction Company
Committee Member
Keith Norden
Keith Norden
President & CEO Team Volusia Economic Development Corporation
Committee Member
Jody Lassiter
Jody Lassiter
JD, MEDP Business Development Manager CSX Transporation, Inc.
Committee Member
Connor Bradford
Connor Bradford
Project Manager Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance
Committee Member
Andy Jocham
Andy Jocham
Director JCEIDA
Committee Member
Robert Long
Robert Long
CEcD Director Chester County Economic Development
Committee Member
Casey Verburg
Casey Verburg
Senior Economic Developer- Industrial
Committee Member
Ron Bertasi
Ron Bertasi
CEO GIS Web Tech
Committee Member
Bruce Takefman
Bruce Takefman
President Research FDI
Committee Member
Matthew Francis
Matthew Francis
National Sales Associate REsimplifi
Committee Member
Bryan Farlow
Project Manager Thomas & Hutton Engineering Co.
Committee Member

Membership Committee

This committee will be charged with developing and implementing a formal membership recruitment and retention campaign for the membership year. Activities will involve anyone with interest from the membership with a special emphasis on the participation of the Board of Directors
Christopher Bontrager
Christopher Bontrager
MPA Vice President: Western Region Retail Strategies, Inc (205)534-4916
Chair
Matthew Darius
Matthew Darius
Director of Operations Southern Economic Development Council (404)523-3030
Staff Liaison

Young Professionals Committee

This committee is designed for our SEDC members, age 35 or below, of the association community interested in connecting with peers and industry leaders to help them grow professionally. Events are held throughout the year at the SEDC’s planned events.
Tyler Chaffee
Tyler Chaffee
Vice President TVA (336)723-8955
Chair
Jeremiah Anderson
Jeremiah Anderson
Managing Director (773)680-4424
Member
Matthew Francis
Matthew Francis
National Sales Associate REsimplifi (404)386-5156
Member
Maria Satira
Maria Satira
Director of Marketing and Communications Greenville - ENC Alliance (252)414-2875
Member
Madeline Lester
Madeline Lester
Project Manager Partnership Gwinnett (404)387-4586
Member
Bryan Farlow
Project Manager Thomas & Hutton Engineering Co. (615)762-0762
Member
Matthew Darius
Matthew Darius
Director of Operations Southern Economic Development Council (404)523-3030
Staff Liaison

State Association Committee

This committee works in coordination with the state economic development associations in the SEDC 17-state region to develop programs and activities of benefit and interest to both groups. (Membership is reserved to representatives designated by the various State Associations)
Liz Dobbins-Smith
Liz Dobbins-Smith
Managing Director North Carolina Economic Developers Association (888)246-2332
Co-Chair
Grant Cagle
Grant Cagle
President and CEO Georgia Economic Developers Association (678)925-7632
Co-Chair
Matt Tackett
Matt Tackett
President Southern Economic Development Council
Staff Liason

Education Committee

This committee will evaluate the needs of the profession for the educational resources that will best equip them in the profession. They will also provide direction to the various committees with responsibility in planning meetings and providing online educational content. They will be tasked with forward-thinking in examining the professional development needs of our members moving into the future.
Burdette (Pete) Fullerton
Burdette (Pete) Fullerton
PhD, EDFP, CEcD, PCED, HLM Assistant Director KC Aviation Department (816)243-3005
Chair
Shelby Fiegel
Shelby Fiegel
Director Community Development Institute Arkansas (501)450-5269
Member
Ashley Llewellyn
Ashley Llewellyn
M.S., CLED Director of Strategic Initiatives St. Tammany Corporation (985)809-7874
Member
Karen Dickson
Karen Dickson
CEcD, MPA Economic Development Manager Lower Colorado River Authority (512)578-3291
Member
Lisa Collins
Lisa Collins
CEcD, EDFP, PCED Executive Director Cook County Economic Development Commission (229)896-2575x1
Member
Thomas Long
Thomas Long
CEcD Vice President Temple Economic Development Corporation (254)773-8332
Member
Will Weber
Will Weber
President & CEO Southbank Partners (859)655-7700
Member
Mark Litten
Mark Litten
Vice President Economic Development Putnam County Chamber of Commerce 3863281503
Member
Eric Richey
Eric Richey
Associate Advisor SVN BlackStream - Charleston Office 925-858-9710
Member
John Cheney
John Cheney
Director of Business Development TTL, Inc. 6153317770
Member
Jenni Harris
Jenni Harris
DPA Executive Director of Business Services North Carolina Department of Commerce (984)236-4221
Member
Matt Tackett
Matt Tackett
President Southern Economic Development Council
Staff Liason
Matthew Darius
Matthew Darius
Director of Operations Southern Economic Development Council (404)523-3030
Staff Liason

Annual Conference Committee

This committee will work with staff to plan and execute the Annual Conference. Committee assistance is needed in securing sponsorships, planning of educational sessions as well as offsite and special events during the conference.
Scott Poag
Scott Poag
CEcD Director of Business Development Yates Construction (770)399-1919
Chair
Joe Hines
Joe Hines
Senior Principal & Director of Economic Dev Timmons 804.200.6380
Local Conference Committee Co-Chair
Chris Gullickson
Chris Gullickson
Director, Economic Development Virginia Port Authority 7576832123
Local Conference Committee Co-Chair
Dan Motley
Dan Motley
CAPT, CEC, USN ret, MBA Industrial Development Manager (540)520-3073
Local Conference Committee
Bryan Rothamel
Bryan Rothamel
Economic Development Director Culpeper VA Economic Development (540)727-3410
Local Conference Committee
Laura Swankler
Laura Swankler
Sr. Manager, Economic Development Virginia Port Authority (804)310-7900
Local Conference Committee
Matt Tackett
Matt Tackett
President Southern Economic Development Council
Staff Liason
Matthew Darius
Matthew Darius
Director of Operations Southern Economic Development Council (404)523-3030
Staff Liaison

Meet the Consultants Committee

This committee will work with staff to plan and execute our Meet the Consultants event. Committee assistance is needed in securing sponsorships, planning of educational sessions as well as a VIP & Networking events during the event.
Scott Poag
Scott Poag
CEcD Director of Business Development Yates Construction (770)399-1919
Chair
Brian Gwin
Brian Gwin
Industrial Development Manager Norfolk Southern Corporation (803)748-1284
Member
Jana Dyke
Jana Dyke
Georgia Certified Economic Development Professional President & CEO Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission 912-283-2112
Member
Matt Tackett
Matt Tackett
President Southern Economic Development Council
Staff Liason
Matthew Darius
Matthew Darius
Director of Operations Southern Economic Development Council (404)523-3030
Staff Liaison

Communication Committee

The Communications committee will ensure that the quality of all SEDC publications both printed and electronic is consistent with the expectations of the membership. The association's internal technology capabilities will be evaluated to allow staff the ability to provide the best external communications to members and the world.

Additional Subcommittees will be developed to carry out certain tasks. Assistance is needed in editing, social media, content development, and technology. These committees will work with other committees to assist them in delivering their messages.
Kevin Johnson
Kevin Johnson
Senior Marketing Manager Kajima Building & Design Group, Inc. (678)457-3804
Chair
Ashley Llewellyn
Ashley Llewellyn
M.S., CLED Director of Strategic Initiatives St. Tammany Corporation (985)809-7874
Member
Elizabeth Lee
Elizabeth Lee
Research & Policy Analyst St. Tammany Corporation (985)809-7874
Member
Gus Fontenot
Gus Fontenot
Economic Development Project Coordinator SWLA Economic Development Alliance (337)433-3632
Member
Linda Mosely
Linda Mosely
CEO/Publisher 365 Degree Total Marketing (912)638-0870
Member
Sarah Macaluso
Sarah Macaluso
Marketing Specialist Red Sage Communications, Inc. (256)693-5246
Member
Stacey Zawacki
Stacey Zawacki
Director of Communications Lafayette Economic Development Authority (337)593-1400
Member
Maria Satira
Maria Satira
Director of Marketing and Communications Greenville - ENC Alliance (252)414-2875
Member
Mark Weilenman
Mark Weilenman
VP, Sales & Marketing Marketing Alliance, Inc. (601)713-0045
Member
Matt Tackett
Matt Tackett
President Southern Economic Development Council
Staff Liason
Matthew Darius
Matthew Darius
Director of Operations Southern Economic Development Council (404)523-3030
Staff Liaison

Legislative Affairs Committee

As SEDC’s face for federal ED issues, the committee will be the liaison between SEDC and other organizations with similar missions to partner and collaborate on initiatives of mutual interest. They will work to create a strong federal legislative agenda representing the interest of our members, voicing that position when necessary and to recognize those legislators supportive of our agenda.
Will Johnson
Will Johnson
Shareholder Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A. (803)779-3080
Chair
Eric Richey
Eric Richey
Associate Advisor SVN BlackStream - Charleston Office 925-858-9710
Member
John Cheney
John Cheney
Director of Business Development TTL, Inc. 6153317770
Member
Matt Tackett
Matt Tackett
President Southern Economic Development Council
Staff Liason

Long Range Planning Committee

This committee will concentrate it’s efforts on the association’s multi-year strategic plan, to include program and financial planning for the future.
Matt Tackett
Matt Tackett
President Southern Economic Development Council
Staff Liason
Steven Leyh
Steven Leyh
Executive Director Tucker County Development Authority (304)614-8839
Member
Jenni Harris
Jenni Harris
DPA Executive Director of Business Services North Carolina Department of Commerce (984)236-4221
Member

Past Chairman Committee

Comprised of Past Chairmen, this committee works with to obtain suggestions and ideas for use by the SEDC Board of Directors to benefit the organization. The committee meets annually at the Past Chairmen’s breakfast during the Annual Conference. The committee will make recommendations to the board for Honorary Life Members.
Frank McCrady
Frank McCrady
President/CEO East Montgomery County Improvement District (281)354-4419
Immediate Past Chair
Matt Tackett
Matt Tackett
President Southern Economic Development Council
Staff Liason

Research and Grant Committee

Lindsay Frilling
Lindsay Frilling
CEcD, IOM CEO Obion County Joint Economic Development Corporation (731)885-0211
Committee Member
Edward Burch
Edward Burch
Director of Business Development Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (615)878-0016
Committee Member
Trent Skillman
Trent Skillman
Precon (615)438-5408
Committee Member
Oppie Jordan
Oppie Jordan
Vice President Carolinas Gateway Partnership (252)904-4498
Committee Member
Nichole Hair
Nichole Hair
Executive Director Mount Rogers Regional Partnership (276)223-4726
Committee Member
Tanner Jones
Tanner Jones
Associate Director of Planning Steadfast City Economic & Community Partners (251)504-3990
Committee Member
Chris Masingill
Chris Masingill
Chief Executive Officer St. Tammany Corporation (985)809-7874
Committee Member
Tanner Behrend
Tanner Behrend
Funding and Expansion Manager Edgecom Energy (647)821-4416
Committee Member
Ron Bertasi
Ron Bertasi
CEO GIS Web Tech (404)535-1261
Committee Member
Matthew Francis
Matthew Francis
National Sales Associate REsimplifi (404)386-5156
Committee Member
Sarah Jacobs
President Coweta County Development Authority (636)219-5320
Committee Member
John Zakian
Senior Vice President Grantworks, Inc. (914)471-3920
Committee Member
Matthew Adkins
Matthew Adkins
Executive Director Kentucky I-71 Economic Development Alliance (606)548-8826
Committee Member
Shane Chadwick
MSED Business Intelligence and Marketing Manager Florida's Great Northwest 850.635.2350
Committee Member