The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce announced Oct. 14 that Bowling Green native Brian Mefford has been selected as its executive vice president of economic development and innovation, according to the chamber.
The chamber said Mefford will lead regional business attraction, expansion and retention efforts. He will also serve as the primary staff leader for the Bowling Green Area Economic Development Authority, the Bowling Green ITA and the South Central Kentucky Regional Development Authority, according to the announcement. The role includes developing regional strategies with local governments, Western Kentucky University, Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College, utilities and workforce partners, the chamber said.
Mefford founded and formerly led Connected Nation, Inc., which the chamber said grew into a national organization with more than 110 employees in over 30 states and a project portfolio of nearly $100 million. The announcement also said he led a public-sector division at software company VETRO that grew from $0 to $16 million in three years.
Earlier in his career, Mefford served as Kentucky’s Head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, overseeing roughly $30 million in programs, according to the chamber. He also co-founded the Commonwealth Commercialization Center and authored Kentucky’s Prescription for Innovation, which the announcement said attracted a $900,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant and more than $4 million in state investment.
The chamber said Mefford has served on the Bowling Green ITA Board of Directors for 13 years. He graduated from Centre College in 1995 with a B.S. in economics, according to the announcement.
