Talmage to head Lee EDO

John Talmage starts this week as director of the Economic Development Office and Pamela Johnson will assume new responsibilities as deputy director of EDO, Lee County Sports Development and the Visitor & Convention Bureau.

Talmage spent his career working in economic development for both municipal governments and research organizations. This includes working for New York City, Miami, Fort Myers and New Orleans. He also served as CEO of Social Compact, a research organization serving the Federal regulatory community, cities around the country and community development organizations. In New Orleans, Talmage served as the Deputy Director for Economic Development where he focused on business development issues including workforce development, international trade and business recruitment and retention. Prior to that, Talmage worked in New York City, where he primarily focused on communities throughout North Brooklyn to address economic development matters.

Talmage will join EDO staff and Pamela Johnson, who has been leading EDO in her role as Acting Director, will now resume her longtime job as deputy director of the VCB as well as assume the new responsibilities of deputy director of both EDO and Sports Development.

The leadership group we have assembled to guide our economic growth efforts is exemplary. John and Pamela’s work will nicely complement that of VCB Director Tamara Pigott and Sports Development Director Jeff Mielke. Together, this team will ensure that Lee County is using all of its available resources to collaborate effectively with our partners in the effort to increase the region’s economic competitiveness – whether promoting tourism, attracting talent or capital investment, growing local businesses or cultivating sports development.