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.
Director of Compliance and Special Projects
Carla Youngblood serves as Financial Consultant to the Executive Director. She provides financial and risk management support 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).
Director of Programs
Darryl Washington is the Director of Programs. Darryl most recently served as Economic Development Consultant for the City of Irondale, AL. He provides day-to-day leadership of current programs and is responsible for driving the agency’s development of new programs, catalytic development, and overall operations. Darryl holds a Masters 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.
Strategic Growth Manager
Elijah Davis is the Strategic Growth Manager. An ecosystem builder, he coordinates the administration of new programs that support small business retention, expansion, attraction and policy. Elijah holds a Bachelors of Science in Economics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
