The City of Lawrence has named Susie Carson as its next director of economic development, effective January 5. With over 15 years of experience in economic development and leadership roles within chambers of commerce, Carson brings a track record of aligning business objectives with long-term community outcomes and fostering cross-sector collaboration to drive sustainable economic growth. n nMost recently, she served as vice president of Membership & Sponsorship Investments at the Olathe Chamber of Commerce, where she worked closely with city officials on business expansion initiatives, engaging stakeholders on investment strategies and economic programs. Earlier in her career, she led efforts in small business development, entrepreneurship support, and downtown revitalization as executive director of the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce. n nCarson is currently completing her Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) credential and is pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Wichita State University, further enhancing her expertise in public-sector economic strategy. n nAssistant City Manager Brandon McGuire praised her collaborative mindset and deep professional background, stating, “Susie brings a collaborative approach, deep experience, and a strong commitment to community-centered economic development. We are excited to welcome her to Lawrence and look forward to the leadership she will bring as we continue building a strong, resilient local economy.” n nHer appointment signals the city’s ongoing focus on strengthening its economic infrastructure through experienced leadership and inclusive development practices. n
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City of Lawrence announces next director of economic development
The City of Lawrence on Tuesday announced Susie Carson as the new director of economic development. n nCarson has more than 15 years of experience with economic development and chamber leadership roles, according to a city news release. n n“Her work has consistently focused on aligning business priorities with long-term community goals and strengthening relationships across sectors to promote sustainable growth,” according to the release. n nCarson was most recently the vice president of Membership & Sponsorship Investments at the Olathe Chamber of Commerce, according to the release. She worked with the City of Olathe on business expansion efforts, where she discussed investments and initiatives with stakeholders. Prior to that, she worked on small business development, entrepreneurship and downtown revitalization as the executive director of the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce. n nShe is currently near completion of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) credential as she works toward her Master of Public Administration at Wichita State University. n n“Susie brings a collaborative approach, deep experience, and a strong commitment to community-centered economic development,” Assistant City Manager Brandon McGuire said in the release. “We are excited to welcome her to Lawrence and look forward to the leadership she will bring as we continue building a strong, resilient local economy.” n nCarson will begin in her role on Jan. 5. n nThis post is by the Lawrence Times news team. n nIf you have news tips, questions, comments, concerns, compliments or corrections for our team, please reach out and let us know what’s on your mind. Email us at Hello@LawrenceKSTimes.com (don’t forget the KS!), or find more contact info and a quick contact form at LawrenceKSTimes.com/contact. n nFollow us so you won’t miss the local news that matters most to you: n nLatest Lawrence news: