The South Carolina Economic Developers Association appointed a new executive director and agency to lead the statewide organization.
Beacon Association management will lead SCEDA in day-to-day operations, including executing large events and coordinating member meetings, according to a SCEDA press release. Additionally, he will guide the board through strategic planning and provide comprehensive metrics and reporting to assess and continue the planning process for the future, the statement said.
Additionally, Katie Koon, CEO of Beacon Association Management, will be the new executive director of SCEDA, according to the statement.
Koon replaces Andrea “Andi” Rawl. In June, the SC Manufacturers Alliance hired Lexington native Rawl as executive director of the SC Automotive Council.
Five team members will work closely with SCEDA to support Koon, who has experience as an executive director of various trade and professional associations, the statement said. According to Koon’s LinkedIn profile, those experiences include top business executives at Community College, the South Carolina Aviation Association and the South Carolina Association of Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors.
She holds the Certified Association Executive designation, awarded by the American Society of Association Executives, which is the association industry’s highest professional designation, according to the statement. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina, according to LinkedIn.
SCEDA Board Chairman Marty Baltzegar led the search for the board in naming a new association management company.
“The SCEDA Board of Directors and SCEDA members across South Carolina are thrilled to welcome Beacon Association Management to our SCEDA family,” Baltzegar said in the release. “They have a rich history of successfully leading organizations on the executive and administrative fronts. We look forward to working side by side as we focus on defining a vision for our future.
