The Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) is North America’s oldest and largest regional economic development association, as it represents 17 states and the world’s best economic developers.

In 2025, newly elected leaders were recently welcomed to the Council’s Board of Directors. State Directors are slated to serve terms of 2 years, and Alternate Directors each serve 1-year terms. All newly elected Directors began terms on January 1, 2025.

New State Directors and Alternate Directors, elected and appointed by the Council’s membership and leadership; include Bethany Shockney of Limestone County Economic Development Association (Alabama State Director), Lacey Bacchus of Retail Strategies (Alabama Alternate Director), Gary Troutman of Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce (Arkansas Alternate Director), Mark Litten of Putnam County Chamber of Commerce (Florida State Director), Keith Norden of Team Volusia Economic Development Corporation (Florida Alternate Director), Misti Martin of Cherokee Office of Economic Development (Georgia Alternate Director), James Oltman of Elevate Edgerton! (Kansas State Director), Zach McHatton of city of Newton (Kansas Alternate Director), Vance Mitchell of Solid Ground Consulting (Kentucky State Director), Rene Deberdt of Denham-Blythe (Kentucky Alternate Director), Russell Richardson of Baton Rouge Area Chamber (Louisiana Alternate Director), Meryl Fisackerly of Golden Triangle Development LINK (Mississippi State Director), Justin Burch of Washington County Economic Development Alliance (Mississippi Alternate Director), Denise Desatnick of Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (North Carolina Alternate Director), Jim Eldridge of OG&E (Oklahoma Alternate Director), Kellen Riley of CSX (South Carolina State Director), Heather Simmons-Jones of MRB Group (South Carolina Alternate Director), Bryan Farlow of Thomas & Hutton (Tennessee Alternate Director), Adam Gawarecki of San Patricio County Economic Development Corporation (Texas State Director), Chris Bontrager of East Montgomery County Improvement District (Texas Alternate Director), David Manley of Joint IDA of Wythe County (Virginia State Director), Jen Kostyniuk of Dominion Energy (Virginia Alternate Director) and David Lieving of Huntington Area Development Council (West Virginia Alternate Director).

“I am proud to serve with this incredible group of professionals,” Limestone County Economic Development Association President & CEO Bethany Shockney said. “SEDC has been a valuable resource for our organization and will help us continue to promote Limestone County, Alabama, regionally.”

Jana Dyke, President & CEO at Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission (Georgia), serves as Chairwoman of the SEDC Board of Directors. Upon election, Dyke stated, “I am honored to lead SEDC during a season of growth. As our Council continues to evolve, I am eager to enhance our strategy and impact to accelerate capacities and economic development in the American South. Economic development is an incredibly special calling, and together, we at SEDC will continue to serve economy builders and champion progress and prosperity in our homes and region.”

Joining Chairwoman Dyke on the SEDC Executive Committee are newly elected 1st Vice-Chair Tim Weston of Brasfield and Gorrie, 2nd Vice-Chair Joe Hines of Timmons Group and Secretary-Treasurer Chris Masingill of St. Tammany (Louisiana) Corporation.

Upon completion of a historic term, Brian Gwin of Norfolk Southern has assumed the Immediate Past-Chair position. Further, Josh Fenn of Stack Infrastructure, Lindsay Theobald of Obion County (Tennessee) Joint Economic Development Corporation and Adam Gawarecki of San Patricio County (Texas) Economic Development Corporation were elected to the Executive Committee to serve as Regional Directors, representing the Council’s three geographic sectors. Executive Officers assumed respective roles on January 1, 2025.

Newly elected leaders join the following professionals on the 2025 SEDC Board of Directors: Jack Thomas of Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce (Arkansas State Director), Missy Kendrick of Rome Floyd County Development Authority (Georgia State Director), Mandi Mitchell of Lafayette Economic Development Authority (Louisiana State Director), Pete Fullerton of Kansas City Aviation (Missouri State Director), Uconda Dunn of Greenville – ENC Alliance (North Carolina State Director), Andrea Anderson of Ardmore Development Authority (Oklahoma State Director), Edward Burch of Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (Tennessee State Director) and Terrell Ellis of Advantage Valley (West Virginia State Director).

As 2024 closed and 2025 began, several SEDC leaders concluded successful terms and have officially rolled off of the Board of Directors, including Scott Poag of Yates Construction, Jason Wright of Northern Alabama Industrial Development Association, Steven Lamm of Jonesboro Unlimited (Arkansas), Kelly Smallridge of Business Development Board of Palm Beach County (Florida), Zach Gilmore of SBDC Florida, Jim DeCesare of the DeCesare Group, Ashley Llewellyn of St. Tammany Corporation (Louisiana), Sarah Doss of Mississippi Enterprise for Technology, Oppie Jordan of Carolinas Gateway Partnership (North Carolina), Kreg Haney of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Richard Blackwell of Agracel, Courtland Robinson of Brasfield and Gorrie and Steven Leyh of Tucker County Development Authority (West Virginia).

“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 Chairwoman Dyke and Directors, and we thank our incoming and outgoing leadership for tireless commitment to people, commerce, and continued American South progress.”