Brynn Grant, whose duties at the Savannah Economic Development Authority have ranged from marketing and public relations to directing the Creative Coast Alliance to playing a pivotal role in bringing a World Trade Center to Savannah, was named chief operating officer for SEDA on Tuesday.
The announcement, made by SEDA interim president and CEO Trip Tollison at the organization’s monthly meeting, drew a standing ovation from staff, board and advisory council members who crowded the meeting room at the World Trade Center Savannah.
“Brynn Grant has been a tireless advocate for SEDA for many years, and we have always counted on her when the hard work needs to be done,” said David Paddison, chairman of the SEDA board.
“I expect great things from SEDA in the future with Brynn as a member of the executive leadership team.”
Tollison agreed.
“In her 12 years here, Brynn has been instrumental in the successes of SEDA and was the natural choice to become SEDA’s Chief Operating Officer,” he said.
“She not only has led SEDA’s award winning marketing efforts, she also spearheaded the establishment and growth of The Creative Coast Alliance and World Trade Center Savannah. She is genuinely interested in doing whatever is best for the advancement of this community, and we are very grateful to have her here at SEDA.”
Grant, formerly vice president of competitiveness for SEDA, will continue in her role as interim vice president of World Trade Center Savannah.
A graduate of the University of Georgia, she first served as SEDA’s director of marketing and public relations, producing programs and materials that have been recognized nationally and internationally. In 1998, she was a member of the SEDA team named one of the Top Ten Development Groups in North America by Conway Data/Site Selection magazine.
From 2008 until 2010, Grant served as executive director of The Creative Coast Alliance, a SEDA affiliate, and vice president of marketing at SEDA.
She has spearheaded the organization’s Competitive Analysis and Target Industry Study, working to integrate Savannah’s assets, efforts and organizations for the greatest possible economic success.
After working with a small team of SEDA board members to evaluate professional and proactive strategies and structures for international development, she was asked to lead the startup of the World Trade Center Savannah and was appointed by the city of Savannah to serve on the first board of the Greater Savannah International Alliance.