Jim Searcy
Jim SearcyExecutive Director
Jim Searcy was named Executive Director of the Economic Development Association of Alabama (EDAA) in July 2013 after serving as the Executive Director of the Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance. Previously Jim served as Vice President for Business and Industry Retention with the Birmingham Business Alliance. He has served as Vice President of Marketing for the Birmingham Metropolitan Development Board. Jim began his career in economic development as a project manager with the Alabama Department of Commerce.

Jim served as both a Board member and Executive Committee member of EDAA. He currently serves on the ATN Advisory Council, the Alabama Productivity Center Advisory Board, the Alabama Workforce Development Board and holds Board positions in several other economic development related organizations.

Jim has a Bachelors Degree in Public Administration from Auburn University and holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Auburn University Montgomery.

Sheri Fowler
Sheri FowlerDirector of Member Services/Administrative Manager
Sheri Fowler has joined the staff of EDAA as Director of Membership Services and Administration Manager. Sheri was most recently at the Alabama department of Economic and Community Affairs and prior to her work with ADECA she worked with the Telecommunications Association of the Southeast for 16 years.

Sheri is married to David Fowler and has three daughters, Brandi, Heather and Whitney.

Officers

President

Angela Smith
Senior Project Manager
Alabama Department of Commerce

First Vice President

Jamie Troutman
Gov. Affairs & Community Dev.
Cullman Economic Development Agency

Second Vice President

Melody Whitten
Economic Development Coordinator
Alabama Community College Systems

Secretary/Treasurer

Shane Kearney
Director – Economic & Community Development
Alabama Power Company

Immediate Past President

Taylor Williams
Governmental Affairs & Economic Development Director
PowerSouth Energy Cooperative

Board of Directors

Cary Cox

Workforce Development – BR&E
Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce

Nathan Lee

President/CEO
Jackson County Economic Development Authority

Allison Brantley

Director, Economic Development
The University of West Alabama

Chris Busby

Executive Director
Chambers County Development Authority

Lee Johnson

Executive Vice President
Baldwin County EDA

Lisa Miller

Manager of External Affairs
Alabama Municipal Electric Authority

Vince Perez

Director of Economic Development
Southeast Gas

David Padgett

Economic Developer
Bullock County Development Authority

Kevin Jackson

President
Shoals Economic Development Authority

Ex-Officios

Ed Castile

Executive Director
Alabama Industrial Development Training

Lee D. Sentell

Director
Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel

Kenneth Boswell

Director
Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs

Greg Barker

President
Economic Development Partnership of Alabama

Ellen McNair

Secretary
Alabama Department of Commerce

Past Presidents

Taylor Williams 2023-2024

Brooks Kracke 2022-2023

Megan McGowen Crouch 2020 – 2022

David Knight 2019 – 2020

Patrick Murphy 2018 – 2019

Lee Lawson 2017 – 2018

Greg Knighton 2016 – 2017

Lori Huguley 2015 – 2016

Hollie Pegg 2014 – 2015

Jeremy Nails 2013 – 2014

Valerie Gray 2012 – 2013

Ken Novak 2011 – 2012

Tate Godfrey 2010 – 2011

Troy Wayman 2009 – 2010

Calvin Miller 2008 – 2009

Brian Hilson 2007 – 2008

Phillis Belcher 2006 – 2007

Don Hopper 2005 – 2006

Louis Lockhart 2004 – 2005

Lamar Smith 2003 – 2004

Dale Greer 2002 – 2003

Greg Barker 2001 – 2002

Alfred Cook 2000 – 2001

Dara Longgrear 1999 – 2000

Griffin Lassiter 1998 – 1999

Forrest Wright 1997 – 1998

David Roberts 1996 – 1997

Michael Harbin 1995 – 1996

Theodore VonCannon 1994 – 1995

Peggy Smith 1993 – 1994

Tucson Roberts/ Ellen McNair 1992 – 1993

Newell Baker 1991 – 1992

Victor Wyatt 1990 – 1991

David Hutchison 1989 – 1990

Ted Levi 1988 – 1989

Mike Gayman 1987 – 1988

Tommy Ed Roberts 1986 – 1987

Dale Hubbard 1985 – 1986

Larry Merihew 1984 – 1985

Michael B. McCain 1983 – 1984

Ed Pitchford 1982 – 1983

David Gladney 1981 – 1982

Randall George 1980 – 1981

Ted Hackney 1979 – 1980

Mike Roberts 1978 – 1979

Fred Denton 1977 – 1978

Glenn Taylor 1976 – 1977

Stanley E. Ship 1975 – 1976

John Hawthorne 1974 – 1975

Guy Nerren 1973 – 1974

George Wurtel 1972 – 1973

Jim Chenery 1971 – 1972

Richard S. Reid 1970 – 1971

John Washburn 1969 – 1970

Sheldon Morgan 1968 – 1969

T. Nelson 1967 – 1968