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Economic Development Services
Kenny McDonald
Executive Vice President, Economic Development Services
kmcdonald@charlotteusa.com
Kenny McDonald serves as Executive Vice President of Economic Development Services for the CRP for which he oversees and executes business development initiatives. McDonald joined the Partnership in 2003 after working in various economic development and site location consulting roles. Most notably, he worked for the Global Location Strategies unit of Fluor Corporation for more than five years, assisting dozens of companies define their facility location requirements and helping communities and regions shape their economic development policy. McDonald works closely with economic developers in the 16-county Charlotte USA region and markets the Charlotte region worldwide, assisting consultants and corporations.
McDonald holds an M.P.A from Georgia Southern University and an undergraduate degree from the Dickinson State University (N.D.). He also is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma and Leadership North Carolina. He earned his Certified Economic Developer designation in 2003.
David Swenson
Vice President, Economic Development Services
dswenson@charlotteusa.com
David Swenson serves as Vice President of Economic Development Services for the CRP for which he executes business development initiatives. Swenson joined the CRP team in 2006 after working for 11 years in local and regional economic development and site location consulting.
Swenson holds an M.S. degree in economic development from the University of Southern Mississippi and a B.S. degree in economic geography from the University of North Dakota. He is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma and earned his CEcD in 2006.
Juawana Colbert
Project Manager
jcolbert@charlotteusa.com
Juawana Colbert serves as Project Manager of Economic Development Services for the CRP and is responsible for managing the Partnership’s business development initiatives. Colbert joined the CRP in 2006, after working for The Indy Partnership in Indianapolis, Ind., where she served as the Manager of Business Development Services for 2 ½ years. At the Indy Partnership, she was responsible for gathering requested information and compiling detailed response packets for businesses considering relocation to, or expansion in, the Indianapolis region.
Colbert received a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from Northwood University. She is also a graduate of the Economic Development Institute and plans to sit for the CEcD certification in 2008.
Dianna Whisnant
Research and Marketing Associate
dwhisnant@charlotteusa.com
As Research and Marketing Associate, Dianna Whisnant is responsible for conducting custom research upon request for internal and external recipients. She was previously a project manager with a small commissioning firm in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
Whisnant joined the Partnership in April, 2008. She holds a B.A. in economics from the University of Virginia and an M.P.A. in economic development and comparative international affairs from Indiana University, Bloomington.
Vanessa Goeschl
Vice President, Research
vgoeschl@charlotteusa.com
As Vice President of Research, Vanessa Goeschl is responsible for managing economic and demographic data for 16 counties within the Charlotte region, conducting custom research upon request and assisting with related economic development projects. She has previous experience as an economic development specialist with the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission in Waveland, Miss., and has worked for the USDA Rural Development State Office in Jackson, Miss., as a community development specialist. Goeschl joined the Partnership in 2003.
Goeschl holds a B.A. in international relations from Boston University and an M.S. in economic development from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Investor Relations
Clay Andrews
Vice President, Investor Relations
candrews@charlotteusa.com
As vice president of investor relations, Clay Andrews works closely with our private investors and recruits new companies to support the Charlotte Regional Partnership’s marketing and business recruitment efforts. Andrews joined the Partnership in 2008 with 20 years experience in economic development in both North and South Carolina. In addition to serving as executive director of the Rock Hill (S.C.) Economic Development Corporation and business recruiter for the Cabarrus (N.C.) Economic Development Corporation, Andrews served as the managing vice president for a national commercial real estate firm’s Charlotte operations.
Andrews earned his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has a master’s degree in business administration from Winthrop University. He also has received his Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation and has real estate broker’s licenses in both Carolinas.
Charlotte Regional Film Commission
Beth Petty
Director, Charlotte Regional Film Commission
bpetty@charlotteusa.com
Beth Petty joined the Film Division of the Charlotte Regional Partnership in 1998. As director, she works as a liaison between film production companies and our community. Among the projects Petty has recruited to the Charlotte region are "The Patriot," "Shallow Hal," "Talladega Nights" and "Leatherheads." She worked closely with Universal Pictures to bring George Clooney and Renée Zellweger back to the Charlotte region for "Leatherheads" premiere and Whistle Stop Tour. Petty also researches, photographs and categorizes location sites within the 16-county Charlotte USA region.
Petty is a two-time graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts. Her first degree is in dance before returning to graduate from the Film School. While earning her second degree, she taught dance, worked as a choreographer and served as the Dance Company Coordinator for Wake Forest University. She has served on the Board of Advisors for the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts and currently is a member of the Central Piedmont Community College film program advisory board.
Kathleen Byrne
Assistant, Charlotte Regional Film Commission
kbyrne@charlotteusa.com
Marketing & Communications
Gina Howard
Director of Communications and Public Relations
ghoward@charlotteusa.com
As Director of Communications and Public Relations, Gina Howard develops and implements communications strategies to increase awareness of the Charlotte region. She has more than 20 years experience promoting international corporations and universities in both Carolinas, as well as extensive writing and editing credits.
Howard earned her B.A. from Duke University and currently is pursuing her M.A. in liberal studies from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. A Leadership Charlotte graduate, Howard is actively involved in the community. She joined the Partnership in 2007.
Laura Foor
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
lfoor@charlotteusa.com
Laura Foor serves as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for the CRP. Mrs. Foor is responsible for planning and executing marketing events that pomote the region and the CRP. Mrs. Foor joined the CRP in March 2007, after working five years as the Existing Business Manager for Lincoln Economic Development Association. At LEDA she was responsible for the retention and expansion of existing industry in Lincoln County.
Foor holds a M.P.A. from Western Carolina University as well as a Bachelor of Science from WCU. She has also completed the Basic Economic Development Course at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Budget & Finance / Administrative Services
Melissa Hendrick
Chief Financial Officer
mhendrick@charlotteusa.com
Melissa Hendrick joined the Partnership in 2007 as the Director of Finance and Operations and was promoted to CFO in 2008. She is responsible for managing all of the accounting, budgeting, financial and operational aspects of the CRP. Hendrick has more than 20 years of experience in her field and was the Associate Director of Financial Services in the Structured Settlements business unit at MassMutual Financial Group where she worked for seven years. She also served as Fiscal Officer for Mercer County Economic Development Corporation.
Hendrick was an honor graduate and holds a Bachelors of Science degree in business administration with majors in both accounting and management from Concord University in Athens, W.Va.
Kathy Lazarides
Administrative Assistant
klazarides@charlotteusa.com
Information Technology
Philip Ciccarello
Director of Information Technology
pciccarello@charlotteusa.com
Philip Ciccarello is responsible for developing and managing Information Technology at the Charlotte Regional Partnership. Additional roles include online marketing and social media strategy, resulting in improved web presence. Ciccarello also provides technical guidance to the developers in the 16-county partnership region.
Before joining the Partnership in 2007, Ciccarello was an Independent Information Technology Consultant. While consulting, he gained industry expertise and focus on the government contracts, mid-small business technology solutions, and independent projects. Ciccarello attended Lynchburg College and Central Virginia Community College, where he studied Computer Science and Business Administration.
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