Roanoke Regional Partnership Executive Director Named to North American Top 50 Economic Developers List
John Hull, executive director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership, has been named to the 2023 list of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers. The list is produced annually by Consultant Connect, a national consulting firm focused on connecting economic developers with site consultants. The honored recipients selected for this list were nominated by their colleagues in both the economic development and site location consulting industries for excellent practices, innovation, and success in building the communities they serve.
Hull has worked at the Partnership for 13 years, serving in the executive director role for the past two. Previously serving as the director of business investment and director of market intelligence. The Roanoke Regional Partnership attracted more than $1 billion in investment and more than 6,000 jobs with Hull’s assistance in leading market intelligence and business investment functions.
In 2022, he led the Partnership’s five-year strategic campaign, exceeding its fundraising goal of $3.6 million by nearly $500,000 in just three months. Since the pandemic and under Hull’s executive leadership, the Partnership has assisted in facilitating expansions and attracting several new employers including Munters, Green Thumb Industries, and STS Group, among others which have resulted in 950 new jobs and $260 million in investment.
“In a short time as the executive director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership, John has quickly established himself as a leader in the economic development field in our region and nationally,” said Brett Marston, president of the Roanoke Regional Partnership Board of Directors. “It is an honor for John, and in turn, the overall Partnership team, to be recognized in this way. John and his staff have continued to establish the Roanoke Region as a great place for business, for outdoors, and for overall livability. We are excited to see where we go from here.”
“It is truly an honor to receive this recognition,” said John Hull, executive director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership. “Our success in the Roanoke Region is only possible through the efforts of our talented Partnership staff working in conjunction with our local governments and our many public and private partners throughout the region. I have had tremendous fortune to work with this excellent team. I am truly grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to the great field of economic development and to work in a field that is so incredibly impactful.”
Consultant Connect, a consulting agency designed to bridge the gap between economic developers and site consultants, strives to lift up the economic development industry by recognizing remarkable economic developers. Each Top 50 Economic Developer will be featured starting June 1 on LinkedIn and Twitter, where each award recipient will have the opportunity to share industry knowledge, leadership insights, and career wisdom with fellow industry professionals.
According to their release, representatives of the organization said, “The Consultant Connect team looks forward to releasing the Top 50 list every year because we believe that the work of economic developers is not only transformative to communities, but it is deeper than that. Each year jobs are created that impact individuals and their families. We are truly honored to provide a platform for North America’s top economic developers to be recognized for the passionate commitment they have made to the communities they serve.”