Exum to Assist with Existing Industry Expansions and New Business Recruitment
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced today that Tracey Exum has been named Southwest Tennessee regional director. Exum will be responsible for leading the state’s economic development efforts in the area that serves Chester, Decatur, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Madison and McNairy counties.
“Tracey will be an outstanding fit in her new role as regional director, and I believe she will continue to build upon the positive economic development momentum that flows through the Southwest Tennessee region,” Commissioner Bill Hagerty said. “The experience she has gained from working with our department for the past 18 years has helped her form meaningful relationships throughout West Tennessee, and I look forward to seeing the impact she’ll make as regional director.”
Exum will serve as the primary point of contact for existing industry expansions and will help attract new businesses, align workforce development strategies and support other regional economic and rural development initiatives.
Prior to her appointment as regional director, Exum served as a business development consultant in Southwest Tennessee. From 2009 to 2011, she chaired the Memphis Regional Economic Development Council and spearheaded the effort which led to the creation of a three-state, 54-county Workforce Analysis & Labor Market Assessment.
Before joining TNECD, Exum worked in hotel management and public relations. Exum earned a master’s degree in business administration from Middle Tennessee State University and a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Tennessee. She is also a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute.
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
Tennessee was named “2013 State of the Year” for economic development by Business Facilities magazine. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies which help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tn.gov/ecd. Follow us on Twitter: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd.
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