Key executive leaving city of Charlotte for new job with CLT Business Alliance
Assistant City Manager Tracy Dodson is leaving city government to help lead the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance as the group’s new chief operating officer and head of economic development.
Dodson will start the new position in early February, according to a statement from the alliance announcing her hiring.
“The opportunity allows me to expand my work to a regional platform while continuing to do so much of what I’ve enjoyed doing with economic development in our community,” she said in the statement.
Dodson, who also serves as the city of Charlotte’s economic development director, has been with the city since 2018. Her city salary is $286,441 a year.
Throughout her tenure with the city, Dodson has been at the forefront of high-profile discussions over renovations to Bank of America Stadium, a restructured agreement with the Charlotte Hornets NBA franchise and other major economic development projects.
City Manager Marcus Jones said in a statement Dodson “has been an integral part of the city’s executive team.”
“I’m excited that Tracy will continue her leadership in Charlotte and will be expanding her role to help grow and support the future of our entire region with the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance,” Jones said.
Dodson previously worked as a senior vice president for brokerage and development at Lincoln-Harris and director of economic development for Charlotte Center City Partners.
In her new role, Dodson will oversee economic development, research, marketing, communications, business development and investor relations, the alliance said in its statement.
“Tracy will be a game changer for the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance,” interim president and CEO Andrea Smith said. “Her impressive track record in economic development and her deep understanding of the region’s strengths and opportunities make her the perfect fit to lead our team and ensure our region remains competitive.”
It’s been a year of change for the Alliance, a regional organization focused born out of the 2018 merger of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and the Charlotte Regional Partnership.
CEO Janet LaBar resigned unexpectedly in April after five years at the helm. The alliance hopes to have a new permanent leader in place early in 2025, The Charlotte Business Journal reported.
