Meet Roswell’s first Economic Development Director

ROSWELL — The City of Roswell has hired Darryl Connelly as the city’s new Economic Development Director.

“We are very excited to have him join us,” said Roswell Councilmember Peter Vanstrom, who also serves as the City’s Economic Development Liaison. “He understands the dynamics of the city, he understands that the residents come first, and he appreciates all the history and all the culture and all the beauty that is in this city. That makes him a wonderful choice as our Economic Development Director.”

Connelly would be the first person to hold this new position in the City.

He comes to Roswell from New York City, where he has spent the last 11 years working as senior vice president of asset management for the New York Economic Development Corporation. While there, he led a team managing 75 commercial properties with $95 million in annual revenue, and oversaw capital and leasing programs, where he brought in large partners to benefit his projects.

Before New York, Connelly lived in the metro Atlanta area working with MARTA as the director of transit-oriented development for three years. He and his team worked to develop assets and projects to promote growth. 

Connelly holds a Master of Science in Real Estate Development and Investment from New York University, and a BA in Economics from St. Michael’s College in Vermont.

He also holds a certificate in sustainable design, construction, and development from New York University, and a certificate in air rights development of transportation corridors from Harvard University. He is certified as a property manager from the Institute of Real Estate Management and also a certified commercial investment member from the CCIM Institute.

The City of Roswell’s Economic Development Director will be responsible for directing and managing the economic development activities of the City. The position will work closely with the Mayor and Council, all City departments, partner organizations, and outside public and private entities to pursue and secure economic development opportunities advantageous to the City.

The Economic Development Director will be the City’s chief economic development strategist, with the continuous goal of putting the City of Roswell on the internationaleconomic development map. The director will lead the development of short- and long-range economic development plans, as well as promoting business growth, retention and attraction to secure a strong revenue base for the City.

Connelly is expected to begin work June 6.