Business

WNC industry recruiter to head Appalachian agency

By Bill Moss, Published: July 30, 2014

Scott Hamilton, president and CEO of AdvantageWest, has been appointed executive director of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the Washington-based agency that promotes economic development in Appalachia. Hamilton starts the new job on Sept. 8.

A Hendersonville resident, Hamilton led the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce and was founding CEO of the Partnership for Economic Development before moving to AdvantageWest in 2006 as executive vice president. He was promoted to CEO in 2009. He said he and his wife plan to maintain their home while he works the new job in Washington.

The ARC provides funding for economic development projects in the 13-state Appalachian Region in areas such as business development, education and job training, telecommunications, infrastructure, community development, housing, and transportation.The ARC coverage area includes Henderson County.

"He is a long time resident of the Region whose career has focused on creating stronger economies in rural North Carolina," ARC Co-Chair Earl F. Gohl said in a news release. "His history of leadership in working collaboratively and building partnerships to attract investment fits nicely with the mission of the Appalachian Regional Commission."

Hamilton first worked at AdvantageWest in 1997 as director of marketing and site development, then spent seven years   as executive vice president of the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce and founding president and CEO of the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development. He was recruited back to AdvantageWest in 2006 as executive vice president. He also served an earlier stint with the Caldwell County Economic Development Commission as the retention and expansion specialist and as its interim executive director.
 
He serves on numerous state and regional boards and was elected president of the North Carolina Economic Development Association in 2008. He is a graduate of the nationally recognized Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma, the North Carolina Rural Center's Rural Economic Development Institute, and the University of North Carolina Greensboro.
 
“I am humbled about the confidence the Appalachian Regional Commission has put in me," he said. "It will be a huge challenge—but exciting opportunity—to go from the leadership of a 23-county organization to one covering 13 states. I’m thrilled about the offer to serve Appalachia in this way, though it is bittersweet to leave behind my colleagues and our board of directors at AdvantageWest. These are some of the most dedicated individuals I’ve ever had the privilege of working with, and I’m deeply grateful for their service.”
 
Hamilton noted that as first-time grandparents he and his wife will maintain a home in Henderson County, returning as often as possible to see their two daughters and one-year-old grandson as well as his parents in Watauga County.

“I’ve been on the road traveling our 10,000 square mile region for the nine years I’ve worked at AdvantageWest,” said Hamilton. “It will be no different to go from D.C. back to the area in order to enjoy time with the friends and family we have here in Western North Carolina—not to mention continued opportunities to work with colleagues in economic development.”

"This is a tremendous opportunity for Scott and we are extremely proud that one of Western North Carolina's own was selected to take the helm at the Appalachian Regional Commission," said W. Thomas (Tom) Alexander, chair of the AdvantageWest board of directors. "This appointment certainly recognizes his years of successfully leading economic development efforts across our broad geographic region. We offer our heartfelt congratulations to Scott and appreciate his commitment to job creation in our area. AdvantageWest has always had an excellent working relationship with ARC and we are excited about future opportunities to work with Scott in serving Western North Carolina."

Project announcements during Scott Hamilton's career with AdvantageWest include Sierra Nevada and New Belgium breweries and filming of the box office hit "The Hunger Games" in DuPont State Forest.
During Hamilton's career with AdvantageWest, the organization has played a key role in numerous major job announcements, from Germany-based Reich GmbH and Canada-based Linamar Corporation to Lionsgate film studio choosing the region as the location for its global blockbuster "The Hunger Games." Hamilton worked for almost a year to help recruit the country's second largest craft brewery, Sierra Nevada, to Western North Carolina when it sought a location east of the Mississippi for its east coast operation. Having also helped bring New Belgium Brewing Company to the region, in 2013 Hamilton was presented the Leadership in Science & Entrepreneurism award from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center for his efforts to help develop the craft brewing industry in Western North Carolina.