Asheville, NC (Oct. 8, 2018) – The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County welcome Ryan Regan to the economic development team as Director of Business Development.
An experienced economic development manager, Regan comes to the Asheville Chamber from North Carolina’s Southeast (NCSE), a regional economic development partnership based in the Wilmington area, where he actively marketed 18 counties of NC’s southeastern region to attract new jobs and investment to the region.
“Ryan brings tremendous expertise in the disciplines of economic development,” shared Clark Duncan, the Asheville Chamber’s Senior Vice President of Economic Development and Executive Director of the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County. “More importantly, he understands the unique role of economic development in building community and ensuring that prosperity is shared by all members of the Asheville community.”
As Director of Business Development, Regan will focus on recruiting new businesses to the Asheville area in accordance with the AVL 5×5 economic development strategy, which targets creation of new, high-paying jobs in advanced manufacturing, healthcare and science and technology. Since 2010, the AVL 5×5 strategies have supported local industry expansions, new corporate locations and entrepreneurial start-ups resulting in over $1.2 billion in new capital investment and nearly 4,000 direct new jobs in Buncombe County.
Prior to NCSE, Ryan worked with Market Street Services, a leading economic development consulting firm, developing comprehensive plans that spur private investment and job creation, attract talent and enhance quality of life.
In addition, Regan is a published author for publications like IEDC’s Economic Development Journal and ACCE’s Chamber Executive Magazine and currently serves as co-chair for the Emerging Executives Committee of the North Carolina Economic Development Association.
The Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County is a public-private partnership committed to creating and retaining high quality jobs, community leadership, and being a resource for better business decisions. The EDC accomplishes this mission through its four core services: business retention and expansion, research, marketing and recruitment, and entrepreneurial development through the programs of Venture Asheville. The EDC is funded by Buncombe County, the City of Asheville, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and the AVL 5×5 Campaign.
For more than 120 years, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce has supported the community by growing jobs, advocating for a business-friendly environment and helping businesses thrive. The Asheville Chamber consists of nearly 1,700 member organizations (representing more than 80,000 employees) who are dedicated to building community through business. Located at 36 Montford Avenue, the Asheville Chamber is also home to the Asheville Visitor Center, serving more than 200,000 visitors each year, and to the Asheville Shop, showcasing many local products and Asheville gifts.
Learn more about the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and EDC at ashevillechamber.org.
###