FORT PAYNE — Dr. Brett Johnson, chief of staff for Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford, has been named executive director of the DeKalb County Economic Development Authority board of directors.
“We are excited to have Dr. Johnson on board,” said Board Chairman Dr. John Anderson. “Brett brings a unique perspective to the table with his extensive experience. He will be an asset to DeKalb County, and we can’t wait to see what all he can accomplish with the support of our excellent staff, industry, and local communities.“We expect to see continued growth, exciting new announcements, and so much more ahead.”
Johnson will take over in November, the authority said.
“I am ready to deliver for DeKalb County,” said Johnson. “We have tremendous assets to promote and are blessed to be in one of the most resourceful areas in the country. I’m looking forward to working with our industry partners to expand on what has gotten us to this point while also reaching for new heights through strategic innovation.
“That innovative spirit and determination is what made DeKalb County and it’s what will carry us into the future.”
In Gadsden, Johnson served as the mayor’s liaison for the Gadsden-Etowah Industrial Development Authority, the Northeast Alabama Regional Airport, and the Gadsden Land Bank Authority. He also led the city’s federal government relations, grant writing, media
relations, and marketing while providing executive leadership for the fire department, city clerk’s office, legal department, and the finance department.
He has held leadership posts at the Alabama Higher Education Partnership, the Alabama Education Association, and Liberty Learning Foundation.
Johnson earned a Ph.D. in leadership from the University of the Cumberlands and is a two-time graduate of Jacksonville State University with a master’s in public administration and bachelor’s degrees in political science and communication. He is a certified nonprofit executive, a certified Alabama planning and zoning official, and a certified local government professional manager.
He has also taught political science courses at Jacksonville State University, Snead State Community College, and Central Alabama Community College as adjunct faculty.
Johnson is a former member of the Boaz City Board of Education, a former Commissioner for the Boaz Housing Authority, and a former member of the Education and Workforce Committee for the Business Council of Alabama.
He is currently a member of the Gadsden Planning Commission, the Career Technical Education Advisory Board for Gadsden City Schools, the Business Program Advisory Board at Snead State Community College, and the Smart Communities Committee for the International City/County Management Association.
His wife, Tiffany Gorham Johnson, is a 2010 graduate of Fort Payne High School. She is a Local Reading Specialist for the Etowah County Board of Education where she has been an elementary educator for more than a decade.
The couple have three children: Laike (5), Mack (3), and Marcie (1).
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