October 24, 2006

The Madison County Economic Development Authority (MCDEA) announces new board leadership and reorganized personnel. 

The MCEDA Board of Directors recently elected new officers and welcomes several new members to the Board.  New officers include: Chip Estes, at large appointee to the Board who serves as the group’s new Chairman, Thomas Johnson, representing District 4 Supervisor Karl Banks, holds the position of Vice Chairman, and Deborah Martin, representing District One Supervisor Doug Jones, was elected to serve as the Authority’s Secretary/Treasurer.  Other members of the Board include Barbara Gray, representing District Five Supervisor Paul Griffin, John Almond, at large appointee, and new members Dick Hutchinson, representing District Two Supervisor Tim Johnson, and Jack Harrington, representing District Three Supervisor Andy Taggart.  Leslie Scott, with Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens and Cannada, serves as legal counsel for the Board.  Mr. Estes commented, “

MCEDA also has reorganized its personnel under the direction of Executive Director Tim Coursey.  Mr. Coursey manages a staff of three including Lenita Knight who has been reassigned to a new position as Manager of Finance and Administration, Mitch Stringer who has been hired to fill the newly created position of Manager of Existing Industry and Business Development and Konstance Smith who is the organizations new Administrative Assistant.  As part of the reorganization, MCEDA has formalized the creation of a new Business Retention and Expansion Program (BRE).  MCEDA recognizes the critical role that existing business and industry plays in the community and in the local economy.  Mr. Coursey stated, “While it is important to sustain our growth and development by recruiting new investment to the County, we feel it is even more important to take care of the companies that we already have”.  The BRE program was created with the core mission of addressing those needs and interest of existing businesses and to place significant emphasis on creating a positive business environment for stable, successful companies.  The first year goals of the program will be for the new BRE Team, consisting of MCEDA Staff and area workforce development specialists, to personally visit each of the major industry employers in the County and survey the top executive/manager during the visit.  Through the survey and general conversation, opportunities and red flag issues can be identified and addressed.  Mr. Stringer will manage the program. 

The Madison County Economic Development Authority is the County’s lead economic development agency whose mission is to assist existing businesses and to attract new investment and higher paying jobs to Madison County in an effort to increase our tax base and improve the quality of life and economic wealth of our citizens.

(Photograph of Board and Staff to accompany story)

MCEDA

Tim Coursey, CEcD

email: Tim@MadisonCountyEDA.com

office:  601.859.1990

watts:  800.896.5087

fax:     601.859.6942

cell:     601.955.1113