Our Team
We have over 50 years of combined community and economic development experience on our staff!
Executive Director
Ivan Holloway, a community economic financial services veteran, serves as the Executive Director. Since 2016, he has led the re-branding and repositioning of the agency. He holds a Master's in Urban & Regional Planning from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University.
Operations Director
Carla Youngblood serves as the Operations Director. She provides financial and risk management leadership to the organization in addition to her leadership on the Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival Committee. Carla holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting from Birmingham Southern College and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
District Development Director
Darryl Washington is the district development director. Darryl most recently served as Economic Development Consultant for the City of Irondale, AL. He provides day-to-day leadership of district development activities and strategies and serves as the main street director. Darryl holds a Master's Degree in Public and Private Management from Birmingham Southern College and enjoys hiking at Ruffner Mountain, where he was the immediate past president of the Board of Directors.
Program Director
Elijah Davis is the Program Director. He manages the administration of new programs that support small business retention, expansion, attraction, and policy. Elijah holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Morgan Richardson
Community Outreach Coordinator
Morgan Richardson is the Community Outreach Coordinator. She is responsible for supporting and coordinating key community service partnerships and supporting district revitalization initiatives. Morgan is a recent graduate, holding a Bachelors of Science in Political Science from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
