October 2024
Jennifer Ryan
As GEDI celebrates its 40th class of the Intensive Economic Development Training Course, we have been chatting with some of our course alumni to learn where they are now and how their participation in the program has impacted their professional careers.
McCall Lugo currently serves as the Economic Development Manager for the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance. Ms. Lugo is a graduate of Intensive Class 2023.
Q & A with McCall
After getting promoted from Marketing Coordinator to Economic Development Manager and settling into my role, I spearheaded the launch of ‘Belong in Baldwin‘, a talent attraction campaign designed to connect and support young professionals considering a career in Baldwin County. This initiative focuses on addressing the challenges of retaining and attracting talent by highlighting the unique quality of life and career opportunities our region offers.
Additionally, the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance has earned four International Economic Development Awards, one of which specifically recognizes the ‘Belong in Baldwin’ talent report.
The biggest lesson I learned was that success depends on collaboration, and collaboration is built on relationships. This, in addition to the real-world knowledge I gained, gave me a solid foundation as an economic developer.
Absolutely! Some connections that have shaped my career the most came from my intensive cohorts. These connections have been invaluable in my career, providing a support network of professionals I can rely on for advice, collaboration, and new ideas.
