The Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) announced on Monday that economic developer Ron Kitchens will be the organization’s new president and CEO.
Kitchens has spent the last 15 years at the helm of Southwest Michigan First, an economic development organization in Kalamazoo with around 30 employees. Before landing in Michigan, he held economic development roles in Texas and Missouri.
The search that led to Kitchens’ hiring was conducted by Mark Tarr, CEO of Encompass Health and the Alliance’s 2021 chairman.
“I am truly honored to be selected to serve the Birmingham Region at this incredibly challenging time in our nation’s economic history,” said Kitchens in a statement.
BBA’s previous CEO, Kenny Coleman, departed in November after four months on the job to take a position at a utility company in Texas. Highly respected Alabama businessman Fred McCallum led the organization on an interim basis during the search for Coleman’s replacement.
Before Coleman, the BBA was led by economic developer Brian Hilson for eight years until he joined the Economic Development Association of Alabama in February 2019.
According to Michigan-based publication Mlive.com, Kitchens’ last day at Southwest Michigan First is January 15. The BBA announced his first day on the job in Birmingham will be February 1.
“Ron is well known among site selectors and location consultants and is a true leader in the economic development industry,” said Jim Gorrie, 2020 chairman of the BBA and CEO of Brasfield & Gorrie, who also praised Kitchens’ “knowledge, connections and track record of collaborating.”
The Birmingham Business Alliance covers a seven-county region surrounding the Magic City and is the best-resourced economic development group in the area.
Per the Alliance, during their incoming CEO’s “tenure with Southwest Michigan First, the organization has been recognized by Fast Company, Outside and INC magazines for its leadership and received the Global Innovators Award from the International Asset Managers Association.”
Outside Magazine has consistently rated Southwest Michigan First as one of the best places to work in the country in recent years.
In addition to his economic development role, Kitchens hosted a podcast and has published two books: “Uniquely You: Transform Your Organization by Becoming the Leader Only You Can Be” and “Community Capitalism: Lessons from Kalamazoo and Beyond.” His public-facing works are collected and accessible on his website.
“This is a pivotal moment for Birmingham and the BBA,” said Tarr in a release. “The momentum we build on and the strategy we are finalizing is a perfect fit for Ron’s expertise. We know the Birmingham community will welcome him and his family with open arms.”
“I truly believe that Birmingham has the resources – people, place and passion – to reinvent what economic prosperity means in America,” concluded Kitchens.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.
