The City of Monroe will soon have a new Economic Development leader onboard to move its economy forward. Northeast Louisiana native Kelsea McCrary will become the City’s Chief Economic Developer effective August 2, 2021.
In announcing her appointment, Mayor Friday Ellis said, “Kelsea’s depth of knowledge and experience is multi-functional. She knows this market, will utilize partnerships with others and has an eye for recognizing opportunity and projects that create residual income. It’s been nearly seven years since we’ve had a Chief Economic Developer, and it’s time we take control of our future. I know Kelsea will help us do exactly that.”
McCrary most recently served as the Director of Civic Design and the Cultural Districts Program for the Louisiana Division of the Arts in Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser’s Office of Cultural Development in Baton Rouge. Her economic development areas of expertise focus on growing the foundational aspects of the cultural economy in a community’s ability to thrive.
In addition, McCrary has played an active role locally and statewide in growing arts organizations, promoting historic buildings, executing cultural events and quality of life initiatives, and leading creative retention and recruiting projects throughout the state of Louisiana for over a decade.
McCrary’s background includes leading Public Policy communications at LUMEN Technologies, ranked 139 on the Fortune 500, and building out their Employer Brand function along with other communications and branding positions in higher education and the private sector.
This appointment is a return home for McCrary whose family lives in the area.
She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Louisiana Monroe and a Master’s in Public Administration from Louisiana State University.