The Board of Directors of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission approved interim president Justin Strickland as the agency’s permanent chief.

Strickland, who has worked at the ADEDC for six years, has been serving as interim president since February 1. Prior to that, Strickland was vice president for business development at the agency, whose mission is to foster new business investment and job creation through the recruitment, retention and expansion of industry for Albany-Dougherty County.

“The ADEDC is very pleased to have Justin as its new president,” said Jay Smith, chair of the ADEDC board and of the ADEDC Presidential Search Committee. “Justin has demonstrated the enthusiasm, passion, commitment and professional know- how necessary to lead this agency. He is the right person for this position.”

Hiring Strickland is a recommendation from the ADEDC Presidential Search Committee, comprised of board members and community leaders. The committee worked with hiring consultant and economic developer Charlie Gatlin on the search, which vetted candidates from throughout Georgia.

“It is a privilege to serve my hometown in this capacity at the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission,” Strickland said. “I’m honored that the board has put its confidence in me, and I look forward to continuing and growing the work that we do to recruit new industry and to assist our existing industries in their expansion opportunities.”

Strickland’s first day as the full-time president was retroactively set to June 1, for accounting purposes.

Strickland is a native of Albany and a graduate of Albany High School and of the University of Georgia. In 2013, he earned the Certified Economic Developer designation, an international accreditation held by 1,000 active economic developers worldwide.