Former State Exec Joins Link

Deason

PRESS RELEASE

COLUMBUS, Miss. – The Golden Triangle Development LINK has hired Joseph Deason as Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Economic Development, Starkville-Oktibbeha County.

From 2006-2010, Deason served as Chief Financial Officer of the Mississippi Development Authority, the state’s economic development, tourism and community services agency. In this capacity he oversaw and managed 8 divisions within MDA including community services, stimulus funding, financial resources, human resources, accounting, legal resources, information and technology, and site facility management.

While at MDA, Deason successfully worked to entice Fortune 500 companies such as Toyota, General Electric, PACCAR, and Severstal to invest approximately $2.4B dollars in capital investment and create 3,500 direct jobs in the State of Mississippi.

Deason was most recently employed as President and CEO of Schulz Xtruded Products in Tunica County, Mississippi, which specializes in a complete range of seamless stainless steel pipe and extruded profiles. Industries served include Oil and Gas, Nuclear, Solar, and Aerospace.

Before that, Deason worked with General Motors and Delphi Corporation culminating in a 17-year career for the world’s largest auto manufacturer and supplier that included stints in Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, and Michigan. Job titles included Mercedes Finance Director, Global Financial Accounting Manager, and Finance Manager Southeast Operations.

In his role at the LINK, Deason will handle legislation pertaining to the regional development effort, assist in the development of financing packages and serve as the head developer for Starkville-Oktibbeha County.

“We are thrilled to add Joey to the LINK team,” said Joe Higgins. “We’ve recruited the very best in staff and consultants and we are hitting the ground running.”

In October of 2012, the LINK and Oktibbeha County reached an agreement in which the LINK would provide economic development services to Oktibbeha County including but not limited to workforce development, existing business expansion and retention, new business attraction and development, research and planning and organizational capacity.

He officially starts work Feb. 1, although he already has meetings set up next week.

For more information about the LINK, or to view the Oktibbeha County- LINK agreement, contact Macaulay Whitaker at 662.328.8369 or email mwhitaker@gtrlink.org.