Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership welcomes new leadership

Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership has new leadership.

Cleveland County government announced it had hired Courtney Ashley as the new executive director earlier this month.

The position had been vacant since July of 2023 when Kristin Reese, who had served in the role for nearly two decades, stepped down.

According to a press release from the county, Ashley previously served as the economic development marketing manager for the City of Greenville, SC, where she supported the city through startup and small business assistance, business recruitment and attraction, community engagement and content and program and event development.

“Courtney is a welcome addition to our economic development team. I am confident that her experience, talents, and strategic thinking will build on Cleveland County’s successes moving us into the future,” County Manager David Cotton said in a press release.

With over seven years of experience and comprehensive knowledge in economic development and community engagement, she now leads Cleveland County’s economic development efforts through new business recruitment, business retention and expansion, project management, site identification and post-recruitment support.

“This role offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with local businesses, government agencies and community organizations to promote economic vitality,” said Ashley. “I look forward to fostering sustainable growth within the community and spearhead initiatives that attract new businesses, support existing industry and ensure that Cleveland County remains a vibrant and dynamic place for everyone."

Ashley has also served as the marketing and events manager for the town of Forest City and as the director of marketing for the Forest City Owls.

She has a Bachelor of Arts with majors in communications and political science from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Ashley officially started her new role as economic development director on April 15.

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership sees new leadership