Dr. John A. Johnson has been named Executive Director of Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance (CGEDA).The Executive Director reports to the CGEDA Board of Directors and is responsible for implementing programs for new business attraction, business retention and expansion, and investor relations. The director works closely with local economic developers, elected officials, chambers of commerce, and industrial boards across the five county region.

Larry Woods, Chairman of CGEDA, stated that the Board is extremely pleased to bring Dr. Johnson on board.  "John brings with him his vast knowledge of the region as well as economic development and workforce development experience due to his tenure at Alabama Southern Community College and Monroeville/ Monroe County Economic Development Authority. Members of the CGEDA Board of Directors are extremely pleased at being able to attract a candidate of his caliber," said Woods.  

Dr. Johnson said, "The Coastal Gateway region has tremendous potential.  Its assets include an excellent workforce, dedicated education partners, and effective community leadership. This region is fortunate to have those and many other crucial attributes.  I intend for the CGEDA to continue to be a catalyst in this process.  The CGEDA Board and staff are passionate and I look forward to translating that enthusiasm into results".

Dr. Johnson, who has served as Interim Executive Director since July 5^th, has hit the ground running, and is making plans to refine the strategic plan in order to include regional strategies and community asset based strategies that drive marketing, with the CGEDA Board and community stakeholders, to ensure that the efforts of CGEDA are aligned with the objectives of the board and regional leadership. Since July, Johnson has also brought several new investors on board with CGEDA and is actively working with local developers on recruitment of new industry and with existing business.

Dr. Johnson wants to talk face-to-face with local leaders and businesses to get their opinions on the challenges and opportunities the community faces from an economic development standpoint.  Due to his background in the CGEDA region, he understands that the strength of the region is in the unique characteristics that each county and community possesses.

He also wants to meet regularly with state project managers to promote the Coastal Gateway Region and continue efforts to raise the region's profile with the Department of Commerce and other state agencies that have both a direct and indirect impact on economic development efforts.

Dr. John A. Johnson was founding Executive Director and is now Principal Advisor of the Monroeville/Monroe County Economic Development Authority. Also, he currently serves as Vice President and Alabama Director of Community and Economic Development, The Montgomery Institute, a private, non-profit organization committed to upbuilding the region of West Alabama and East Mississippi.

Dr. Johnson previously served on the Executive Board of CGEDA representing George F. Landegger and Parsons and Whittemore, Inc., and also serves on the Board of Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council (SAWDC).

Dr. Johnson was President, Alabama Southern Community College for 20 years, 1989-2009. Founding Alabama Southern through merger of a traditional junior college and a technical institute, Dr. Johnson led the College to be ranked in the top 20 of 1200 American community colleges.

Alabama Southern was selected for the 2005 National Bellwether Award for Instructional Excellence, the nation's most prestigious community college award. The College was also a top 10 finalist for the 2006 Bellwether Award for Workforce Development and for the 2009 Bellwether Award for its LifeTech Institute. The National Science Foundation in 2004 designated Alabama Southern as the National Center for Pulp and Paper Technology Training, one of only 14 national centers and the only rural center in the nation. Dr. Johnson also led the designation of Monroeville as "The Literary Capital of Alabama" and created the Alabama Writers Symposium, recognized as Alabama's premier annual literary event.