The Halifax Industrial Development Authority (IDA) is pleased to announce that Kristy Johnson has been selected as its Manager of Marketing & Business Development. While this is a new position for the IDA, Kristy is well known to the IDA and Halifax County.

"Our search lead us to our own backyard," said IDA Executive Director, Matt Leonard. "We had an excellent response from candidates local and beyond, including those with marketing experience for nationally recognized organizations," reports Leonard. "Kristy knows Halifax County, and believes in it deeply. She has proven that over and again through her excellent work for the IDA and REC over the last five years, and through her community involvement outside of her work. Between her previous education and experience, and her different roles and responsibilities at the IDA and the REC, she has built up many of the skills needed for the this new position.."

Kristy first came to the IDA as its Operations Manager in 2009, a position she held until 2011. Her excellent work in that capacity made her the IDA's clear choice to become the Director of Operations & Business Development for Riverstone Energy Center (REC). REC is an IDA component, funded by the Tobacco Commission, the County and IDA, offering Business Incubation, and Product Development and Improvement. Dr. Douglas Corrigan is REC's Executive Director, and worked extensively with Kristy over the last two years to launch and grow the REC.

"Kristy is a great mulit-tasker, and a notably hard worker. She has done everything we needed her to do, and done it well," said Dr. Corrigan. "In fact, we singled her out at this time last year for her exemplary work on the Advanced Manufacturing Symposium and C-CARE Ribbon Cutting event. Kristy spent countless hours coordinating many of the IDA's partners, and industry stakeholders from around the country."

Johnsons's new duties will include planning and implementing targeted marketing strategies and tactics, coordinating prospect events, developing and coordinating marketing materials, deploying marketing through various media (electronic, social, print, etc.), developing and maintaining productive relationships with economic development and community partners and allies, assisting when negotiating agreements and contracts with prospects.

Johnson lives in the Town of Halifax with her husband Clint Johnson, a SVCC instructor working at the SVHEC, and their two sons. She is a Town of Halifax Council Member, Town of Halifax Planning Commissioner, Mentor Role Model Board Member, and Co-Chair of the Chamber of Commerce's Young Professionals & Entrepreneurs. She holds a BA in Business from Georgia Southwestern State, Basic Economic Developer Certificate, and a graduate of the Chamber of Commerce's Leadership program. She will start her new position on October 15th.