Pulaski Mayor Dan Speer has been appointed as Executive Director of the Pulaski-Giles County Economic Development Commission. Speer will succeed Robert Barnes, who tenured his resignation two weeks ago.

Speer’s appointment came at a special meeting of the organization’s Board of Directors last week. After Barnes’ resignation, the board appointed a committee to explore how to best fill the position of executive director. The board felt that a new director should be appointed as soon as possible because several important industrial recruitment prospects were considering locating in Giles County.

“We have one of the most experienced economic development people in the state right here in Giles County,” said Hascal Mayes, chairman of the Economic Development Commission (EDC). Mayes went on to say that one of the greatest benefits to hiring Speer was the fact that the board would not be burdened by a long, expensive search process. He further cited that Speer’s intimate knowledge of Giles County and its economic development efforts would enable the new executive director to hit the ground running and keep current recruitment efforts moving forward without losing momentum.

Speer is no stranger to economic development and recruitment in Giles County. He has been actively involved in many of the recruitment projects that have brought new industries to the area and his experience makes him uniquely suited for this position.

In addition to serving as mayor of Pulaski, Speer has held various leadership positions in Giles County for over 22 years.

“Dan Speer is well-known and well-respected by the existing industries in Giles County,” commented Chris Berryman, of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s department of economic development, We can always count on him to do whatever it takes to meet the needs of area business. I am looking forward to continuing to work with Dan in his role as Economic Development Director.”

Speer’s past efforts toward the betterment of Giles County also received praise from other quarters.

“Anyone who knows Dan Speer knows that he is a relentless promoter of Giles County,” said Bill Shuff, of the Middle Tennessee Industrial Development Association. “For over 20 years, Dan has been an integral part of this area’s economic development efforts. I am pleased that he will be taking an even more active role moving forward.”

Speer is planning on leaving the day-to-day operations of the Speer-Horn Insurance Agency to serve as the full-time Economic Development Dirctor. He will, however, continue to serve as mayor of Pulaski.

“The Economic Development Commission is not a city board and Mr. Speer will not be a city employee,” said Pulaski City Attorney Mark Smith. “He will not participate in any city-sponsored health care plan or retirement plan. It is a separate organization with a separate board of directors.”

There is no state prohibition for an elected official to serve on the staff of the organization.

Speer officially began his duties on Monday, July 3, 2006.