Press release
The directors of the Athens Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) have announced the position of CEO/President has been filled by Lisa Denton who presently serves as Assistant Director of the Kilgore Economic Development Corporation.
Denton will assume the Athens position Jan. 5, replacing Brian Malone who left in November to join the Pearland EDC.
In making the announcement, AEDC Board President Jess Laird said, “We are very excited to have Lisa join us at the AEDC. Lisa has extensive experience in business retention and recruitment, and will be an immediate asset to us.”
Denton joined the Kilgore EDC in 2004. As assistant director she has been responsible for employer retention and expansion, recruitment, marketing strategies and development of the $3.2 million annual budget. She has earned certifications in economic development from the University of Central Arkansas, the National Development Council and Business Retention Expansion International. She is a graduate of the Texas A&M University Basic Economic Development Course.
While in Kilgore, Denton was a founding board member of the Boys & Girls Club and a graduate of Leadership Kilgore. Professionally she served as president of BREI and chairperson of the Kilgore College Workforce Development advisory committee.
The AEDC is currently in the engineering phase for water, sewer and street improvements in the industrial park and is in the process of acquiring 296 acres adjacent to the Athens Municipal Airport for runway expansion. The purchase will be part of a planned multi-year, multi-million dollar joint effort. The AEDC, along with the City of Athens Airport Board, city and county officials and the business and private sector are working on a grant application to leverage Federal funds administered by the Texas Department of Transportation Aviation Division.