TBED People and Job Opportunities: People and Organizations

Alabama then-Governor-elect Robert Bentley on January 3 named former House Speaker Seth Hammett as director of the Alabama Development Office, replacing Interim Director Linda Swann. He also appointed the president of the Birmingham-based Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, Bill Taylor, to lead efforts to grow and retain existing Alabama industries, while at the same time recruiting new businesses to the state.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper nominated Dwayne Romero, president of Related Snowmass, to be the new director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

Florida Governor Rick Scott fired John Adams, the current president of Enterprise Florida, so that he can choose a new leader to help promote his job creation and economic development agenda.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton chose Mark Phillips, director of development at Kraus Anderson Construction, as his commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the nomination of Kenneth Adams as president and CEO of the Empire State Development Corporation. Gov. Cuomo said the appointment is part of his plan to change the leadership structure of ESDC, separating the CEO and chairperson functions.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin announced she has selected Dave Lopez to serve as Secretary of Commerce. Lopez is a civic and community leader and currently serves as president of Oklahoma City-based American Fidelity Foundation.

South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed an executive order abolishing the Department of Tourism and State Development, replacing it with a Governor's Office of Economic Development and a Department of Tourism.

Tennessee then-Governor-elect Bill Haslam on January 10 named Bill Hagerty as commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development. Hagerty worked on the White House Domestic Policy staff during President George W. Bush's administration as a member of the President's Council on Competitiveness and was a founder and managing director of a merchant bank and private equity firm, Hagerty Peterson & Company, LLC. Hagerty replaces Matt Kisber.

Lewis C. Attardo has been named the first full-time Florida Small Business Advocate. Previously, he served as the interim advocate and director for the Florida Office of Small Business Advocate and as acting administrator of the Florida Small Business Regulatory Advisory Council (SBRAC).

The University of West Florida announced the creation of the Office of Economic Development and Engagement.

The Center for Emerging Technologies has hired Harlee Sorkin to lead a new a program for first-time bioscience entrepreneurs in the St. Louis region.