Great things happening at the Creative Coast! Congratulations Brynn, Fitz, Jamie, Leigh

The Creative Coast Alliance Restructures

New titles and expanded roles announced

(Savannah, GA – July 15th, 2008) – Shortly following the appointment of Brynn Grant as Executive Director of the The Creative Coast Alliance, the local non-profit established to help create, grow and attract creative and technology based businesses has announced new positions and expanded roles for its staff.

Jamie Wolf has been named Director of Programs and Entrepreneurial Development. Jamie brings a passion for helping others and personal experience as a successful entrepreneur to this role.  As co-founder of a start-up company in the medical device and disease management space, she facilitated the initial concept, developed the business plan and strategy, and led the marketing rollout through series A and B seed funding, taking the brand new product through successful FDA clearance with a team of 5 people in 14 months.

Jamie holds a Masters in Business from Arizona State University and previously worked for the National Institute of Environmental Health Science, driving numerous clinical research projects. Before moving to Savannah, she was the Coordinator of Institutional Funding for the largest health system in the state of Hawaii, fostering research in the medical and business communities.

In 2006, Jamie took on the leadership role for the Coastal Business, Education and Technology Alliance (CBETA), a 501(c) 6 all-volunteer, membership-based organization that merged with The Creative Coast Initiative in late 2007 to form The Creative Coast Alliance.  Throughout the transition, she has remained committed to the effort to help support, grow and attract high wage businesses.

Fitz Haile has been named Director of Marketing and Public Relations. Fitz jumped into The Creative Coast Initiative with both feet in the summer of 2004 and has been the keeper of the flame – the brand and the voice – ever since.

A graduate of Leadership Savannah, Fitz has directed a myriad of projects within TCCa; from the first regional TechFest to the Governor’s opening event for Inc Magazine’s 500 fastest growing companies. He manages the design and development of the TCCa web presence and portal – the organization’s core communications vehicle for local constituents and external target markets that has become the one-stop-shop for new or relocated knowledge-based companies in Savannah.  With a degree in economics and mathematics, Fitz is also the resident number cruncher at TCCa.  He produces the TCCa Annual Economic Analysis, using a methodology that has earned the recognition of the International Economic Development Council.

While Fitz will continue his work in these wide-ranging capacities, he will also now apply his expertise toward actively marketing Savannah as The Creative Coast to creative and technical, higher wage businesses outside of the region.  One of the first projects on his list will be working with volunteer co-chairs to host TCCa’s first Innovation Awards to be held October 23rd at Savannah Station.

Now on staff a full year, Leigh Lawless also has a new title and an expanded role as Marketing and Member Services Coordinator.  Leigh joined TCCa in July 2007 as Outreach Coordinator and will continue coordinating events that offer valuable exposure, information or resources to established businesses, such as TCCa’s Open House Series and the annual TechFest competition. Leigh will also support all TCCa communications, on-going programs and will lead such projects as advisory board coordination and management of success metrics. Leigh lends her support to Windsor Forest High School as a Community Coach and supports the efforts of Savannah’s non-profit AWOL, Inc. as they implement an IT Training program for underprivileged youth.

Leigh has an undergraduate degree in Communications from Oglethorpe University and a Masters in Public Administration from Georgia Southern University.

The Creative Coast Alliance (TCCa) is a 501(c) 6 organization dedicated to helping create, grow and attract higher-wage, knowledge-based businesses in the Savannah region.  TCCa is currently funded by contributions from the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), the City of Savannah, Chatham County, event sponsors and patrons. For more information, visit www.thecreativecoast.org.