MAYOR DEAN ANNOUNCES NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (August 26, 2009) -
Mayor Karl Dean today announced Alexia Poe will serve as director of the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Community Development. She replaces Paul Ney who will be returning to legal practice.
“I deeply appreciate Paul’s service over the last two years,” Dean said. “He has done a great job representing our city, and I wish him well as he returns to his first love, the law. Alexia has a wealth of experience working in both the public and private sectors. I look forward to working with her as we continue to position our city for economic growth.”
Poe currently serves as managing director of the Tennessee office for Peritus Public Relations. Prior to joining Peritus, she was director of public affairs for Gaylord Entertainment where she managed government relations, community relations and the company’s charitable contributions through its Foundation.
Before working in the private sector, Poe spent nearly a decade in public service. She served as communications director for U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) in Washington, D.C. where she worked with Tennessee and national press and built the senator’s press office from the ground up. Prior to working on Capitol Hill, Poe served in the White House as deputy press secretary to First Lady Laura Bush.
Her public service began with five years in Gov. Don Sundquist’s (R-TN) press office becoming the youngest person in the state’s history to serve as press secretary. She began her career as a reporter and morning anchor in Northeast Tennessee.
“Nashville is one of the best places in the country to live, work and raise a family, and I look forward to promoting this city and doing my part to promote strategic economic growth,” Poe said.
Poe, 35, is a Knoxville native and graduate of the University of Tennessee with a bachelor of science in communication and a minor in political science.
She serves on the executive committee and board of directors of Fifty Forward (formerly Senior Citizens, Inc.) and the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce. Poe is also serving as 2009-2010 program co-chair for Leadership Nashville.
For media inquiries contact:
Janel Lacy
(615) 862-6020
janel.lacy@nashville.gov