ALBUQUERQUE – Albuquerque’s leading regional job-creation group has hired a New Mexico native and city transplant whose education and skillset will help move the needle on job creation.

Albuquerque Economic Development (AED) President & CEO Danielle Casey announced this week the appointment of Grant Taylor as the organization’s business development project manager. He will assist AED’s senior vice president of business development, Debra Inman.   

“Grant’s combination of skills and passion are what AED needs to prepare and propel greater Albuquerque into a thriving future,” Casey said. “He will be an asset to our business development team, and as AED dives deeper into its strategic planning process with our members and our partners, he will be integral to the process and the next steps.”

Taylor relocated his family to Albuquerque from Hobbs nearly five years ago to work on state public policy, focusing primarily on efforts to improve the state’s business climate and the economy. In Hobbs, Taylor worked in economic development for several years and was the president and CEO of the Hobbs Chamber of Commerce for five years. During his time there, Taylor created the EnergyPlex moniker still promoted by Lea County and turned around the then-struggling chamber.

“Joining AED is a career goal that dates back to when I was 21 years old,” Taylor, 39, said. “At that time, I promised myself my career would be devoted to making New Mexico a better place to live and work. I have long-admired AED’s reputation and effectiveness, and there has never been a more exciting time to join the organization than under Danielle’s leadership and with the forthcoming new strategic plan.”

Taylor is a past honoree of Albuquerque Business First’s 2014 40 Under Forty, 2015 Top CEOs, and he was recognized in 2016 for Ethical Young Leadership by the New Mexico Ethics in Business Awards. In addition to earning both a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in business administration at New Mexico State University, Taylor is a graduate of the 96-hour Institute for Organization Management, a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Taylor is now studying to become a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a credential designated by the International Economic Development Council.

Casey said she will look to Taylor to work on a range of initiatives, including business recruitment. In recent years, AED played major roles in recruiting TempurPedic, Fidelity Investments, Hewlett-Packard-Packard, Facebook, Netflix, NBCUniversal, and more. Collectively, these recruitment efforts created thousands of jobs.

“Grant has a diverse background that will help us on a number of fronts,” Casey said. “He has a track record of implementing innovative ideas that made his employer organizations and stakeholders better. We’re going to harness his know-how, curiosity and passion to make AED and this region all the better.”

To learn more about the exceptional talent, environment, or location opportunities in the greater Albuquerque region of New Mexico, visit www.www.abq.org.

###

About AED AED is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to recruit business and industry, help local companies grow and generate quality job opportunities throughout the Albuquerque metro area. AED provides confidential assistance to businesses considering the area for expansion and new investment. Since its creation in 1960, AED has recruited more than 250 companies and more than 35,000 jobs to the Albuquerque metro area. AED also provides retention and expansion assistance to existing industry. For more information about AED, visit www.www.abq.org.

Translate »