By Special to the Daily World
The Board of Directors of The Atlanta Development Authority (ADA) named Brian P. McGowan as its new president and chief executive officer last week. McGowan has served as U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce and COO for the U.S. Economic Development Administration since September 2009. McGowan was also detailed to the White House as a senior economic advisor from July to November 2010 to establish and lead an Economic Solutions Group within the National Incident Command to help communities along the gulf mitigate the economic impacts of the BP oil spill.
“I believe that Brian McGowan’s extensive experience having worked at all levels of government will help The Atlanta Development Authority continue to move the City of Atlanta toward economic recovery,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “We’ve made great strides over the past 16 months with initiatives such as the ongoing revitalization of the Historic Westside District, the redevelopment of Fort McPherson, and the relocation of Porsche’s headquarters to the city. I am confident that under Brian’s leadership, we will build on that strong foundation and generate even more economic investment and development opportunities for the City of Atlanta.”
“I am honored to have been selected as the new president/CEO of The Atlanta Development Authority, and I am grateful for the confidence that Mayor Reed and the board members have placed in me,” McGowan said. “Atlanta is one of America’s greatest cities because of the value it has placed on innovation, education and connections to the global economy. It’s an economic powerhouse and a city poised for 21st century leadership and growth. I look forward to working with public and private sector leaders throughout the region to accelerate that momentum and create jobs and opportunity for the people of Atlanta.”
Before joining the Obama administration, McGowan was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and served as California’s deputy secretary for economic development and commerce in the Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency. Before that, he was appointed as the Economic Development Agency administrator for the County of San Bernardino, Calif., overseeing four departments focused on economic development, community development and housing, redevelopment and workforce development.
Also announced recently was the appointment of Ernestine Garey, the former interim president, to the position of executive vice president and chief operating officer to manage the day to day operations of the Authority. Prior to being named interim president in 2010, Garey was managing director of the Housing Finance Department for the ADA for more than 10 years.
The Atlanta Development Authority Presidential Selection Committee was chaired by Scott Taylor, president of Carter. Other members of the committee were: Atlanta City Councilmember Joyce Sheperd, Anna Foote and Julian Bene.
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