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Annie Baxter is the Business Recruitment Manager at Duke Energy Corporation.  Prior to joining Duke Energy, Annie Baxter was 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. Annie 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. While there, Annie worked alongside the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Georgia Allies and all local Georgia communities to recruit new industry to the State of Georgia for the purpose of job creation, capital investment and the expansion of Georgia’s tax base.

Annie serves as a board member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) and Advisory Director of its 2014 Future Leaders Class. Annie also chairs the Young Professionals Committee of the Georgia Economic Developers Association.

Annie is a graduate of the University of Georgia receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, journalism and public relations.

Brenda Robbins is Senior Project Manager for Georgia Power. She is responsible for facilitating the location, expansion, or start-up of businesses wishing to invest in Georgia. Brenda assists companies in identifying potential communities, sites or buildings throughout the state; she also provides market evaluation, construction information, engineering assistance, and serves as a liaison between the businesses and governmental agencies involved in the site selection process. Brenda has a strong background in information systems and software, establishing data centers and talent recruitment.
She has extensive expertise and experience with headquarters locations, information technology, finance and insurance, business services, bio science, health IT and data centers. Brenda has worked with more than 150 companies that have established a presence in Georgia, collectively investing more than $7 billion and employing more than 34,000 Georgians.
Brenda is a member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association, the Metro Atlanta Bioscience Leadership Council and the Alpharetta Technology Commission. She serves on the board of directors of the Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS® (ACBR) and was named the organization’s 2014 Affiliate of the Year. Brenda was recently honored as one of the 2015 ConsultantConnect Top 50 Economic Developers. Her interests include travel, whitewater rafting, and gardening.
Brenda graduated from Auburn University with a business administration degree in marketing. She completed her Masters in Business Administration at Georgia State University. Brenda is a volunteer with Atlanta Pet Rescue.

Bob Leak, Jr., is currently the President of Winston-Salem Business Inc. (WSBI), a non-profit economic development corporation serving Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, North Carolina. Bob joined WSBI in May of 1989 as Vice President of economic development and was then promoted to President in October of 1991.Bob works closely with local business and elected leaders to recruit new business to the community.

Prior to joining Winston Salem Business, Bob served on the North Carolina Economic Development Board in 2000-2001, appointed to that position by Governor Jim Hunt. Bob is also an adjunct professor of real estate in the Wake Forest University Schools of Business.

Mr. Leak was named the Economic Development Practitioner of the year by the North Carolina Economic Developers Association in 2006 and earned his Certified Economic and Community Developer (CeCD) designation in October of 1991  Bob is a member and past President of the North Carolina Economic Developers Association (NCEDA), member and board member of the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC), and a member and past board member of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

Bob received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Masters of Business Administration from Wake Forest University and is a graduate of the Basic Economic Development Course in Chapel Hill and the Economic Development Institute in Norman, Oklahoma.

Ronnie Bryant is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Charlotte Regional Partnership. Ronnie leads the team that promotes the 16-county Charlotte USA region throughout the world as a premier location for businesses considering expansion or relocation. Additionally, Ron works closely with partnership investors who provide the funding necessary to bring jobs and capital to the region.

Bryant has more than 20 years of technical, managerial and economic development expertise, and a proven track record of establishing and implementing successful economic development programs. He specializes in existing industry expansion and retention, with a strong emphasis on regionalism and marketing.

As a member of the North Carolina Economic Development Board and other professional and civic organizations, Ronnie ensures that the region plays a prominent role regionally and nationally.

Ron is a graduate of Louisiana State University in Shreveport and the Economic Development Institute at the University .of Oklahoma in Norman where he currently serves as dean. Ron is also a certified Economic Developer

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 among North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers of 2015. Rachel is also 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.

Tracye McDanielTracye McDaniel is the President and CEO of Texas Economic Development Corporation, Inc., an independently funded and operated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, whose mission is dedicated to economic development, business recruitment, and job creation in the State of Texas. Texas Economic Development Corporation operates the TexasOne™ Program which coordinates efforts with the Office of the Governor for strategic marketing and lead generation activities.

Formerly with Choose New Jersey, Inc., Tracye led global promotion, lead generation and project management for economic growth and job creation in the Garden State and is part of the state’s award-winning economic development organization: The New Jersey Partnership for Action (PFA). Under the leadership of Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, the Partnership serves as the starting point for all initiatives, policies and efforts related to growing New Jersey’s economy and creating quality, sustainable jobs. In 2007, Tracye served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP), Houston, TX, regarded as a top global location for business.

Tracye holds leadership positions in numerous professional and industry organizations and sits on the Board of Directors of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Tracye was also named by NJBIZ among New Jersey’s 2014 Best 50 Women in Business, as well as the 100 Most Powerful People in New Jersey Business. Tracye was appointed by Governor Chris Christie to both the Council on Innovation and the New Jersey Military installation Growth and Development Task Force during her time in New Jersey.

Tracye is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, and is a Ford Foundation Regional Sustainable Development (RSD) Fellow, a program of American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE).

Becca Hardin is the President at the Bay County Economic Development Alliance(EDA). Becca joined the Bay EDA in October, of 2014, as Senior Vice President and was named Interim President in November when it was announced that then Executive Director, Neal Wade, had accepted an opportunity with the University of Alabama.

Becca moved to Bay County from Columbus, Georgia where she gained over 14 years of experience in economic development, with 13 of those years as Executive Vice President of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

Becca has a B.S. degree from Troy University with a double major in Broadcast Journalism and Public Relations.


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Holly Schroeder currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation (SCVEDC). Holly is responsible for overseeing all operations of the SCVEDC which provides an integrated approach to attracting, retaining and expanding a diversity of business and industry in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Prior to her current position, Holly was the Chief Executive Officer at Building Industry Association – Los Angeles/Ventura. Holly was responsible for all aspects of daily operations of the non-profit association in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Holly has been named as Santa Clarita Valley’s 51 Most Influential People for two years straight. Holly was also awarded the D. Gregg Brown Memorial President’s Award and the Executive Officer of the Year award by the Building Industry Association of Southern California. Holly has published articles in a wide variety of publications and is very active volunteering in her community.

Holly received her Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry and French from St. Olaf College and her Masters of Science in interdisciplinary studies: applied information management from the University of Oregon.

Steven Johnson was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Missouri Partnership in April, 2015. Steve directs the Partnership’s marketing and business recruitment teams, working in close cooperation with the Missouri Department of Economic Development and the Hawthorne Foundation.

Prior to working with the Missouri Partnership, Steven led regional economic development initiatives in communities throughout the Midwest and Southeast. Most recently, he joined the St. Louis Regional Chamber in 2004 where he served as the Executive Vice President of Economic Development and Market Strategies. Steven previously served in leadership positions with the Kansas City Area Development Council, as well as chambers of commerce in Mobile, Alabama, and Jefferson City, Missouri, his hometown.

Steven received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Harding University in Arkansas.

Jim is currently the President and CEO of the Desoto County Economic Development Council where he focuses on their mission to facilitate, promote and provide effective, unified leadership for economic development and improved quality of life in DeSoto County.

Jim worked as a planning and landscape design consultant in Clarksdale, Mississippi, before becoming planning director and eventually executive director of North Delta Planning and Development District.

He became executive director of the DeSoto County Economic Development Council in 1988 and served in that capacity until 1994, when he accepted a new position as president of the Jackson, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce. In 1996 Flanagan returned to the DeSoto Council as president and CEO.

Jim has won numerous awards, including being selected as The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi’s Community Star man of the year award in 2011 for going above and beyond to bring opportunity to his community. In addition, he is responsible for the creation and management of DeSoto Leadership 2000 and the restructuring and administration of DeSoto County Foundation for Excellence in Education, which provides grants to teachers. He was also able to achieve the adoption of the DeSoto County Greenways Plan through the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors.

Jim earned his bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University and master’s degree in urban and regional planning from University of Mississippi.