
About EDGE
Provides and coordinates public resources to drive economic development in Memphis and Shelby County through ongoing economic activities and projects that provide real value to the community and provide a strong foundation for future economic growth.

About EDGE
Provides and coordinates public resources to drive economic development in Memphis and Shelby County through ongoing economic activities and projects that provide real value to the community and provide a strong foundation for future economic growth.
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Who We Are
Created in 2011 through a joint resolution of the Memphis City Council and the Shelby County Commission, EDGE is the economic development agency for the City of Memphis and Shelby County coordinating public resources to drive growth. EDGE provides and coordinates public resources to drive economic development in Memphis and Shelby County.
Contact an Economic Development Specialist at:
901.341.2100
Contact an Economic Development Specialist at:
901.341.2100
Contact an Economic Development Specialist at:
901.341.2100
Our Focus
EDGE leverages the benefits of economic development incentive programs to foster public/private partnerships that:
Our Focus
EDGE leverages the benefits of economic development incentive programs to foster public/private partnerships that:

Attract Investments
→

Attract Investments
Draws international business to the area.

Create & Retain More Jobs
→

Create & Retain More Jobs
Increases hiring potential.

Grow Employee Wages
→

Grow Employee Wages
Creates high
paying jobs.

Attract Investments
→

Attract Investments
Draws international business to the area.

Create & Retain More Jobs
→

Create & Retain More Jobs
Increases hiring potential.

Grow Employee Wages
→

Grow Employee Wages
Creates high
paying jobs.

Revitalize Neighborhoods
→

Revitalize Neighborhoods
Sparks economic growth and renewal.

Attract Investments
→

Attract Investments
Draws international business
to the are.

Create & Retain More Jobs
→

Create & Retain More Jobs
Increases hiring
potential.

Grow Employee Wages
→

Grow Employee Wages
Creates high
paying jobs.

Revitalize Neighborhoods
→

Revitalize Neighborhoods
Sparks economic growth and renewal.

Assist Small Businesses
→

Assist Small Businesses
Helps with building improvements & hiring.

Leverage the Port of Memphis
→

Leverage the Port of Memphis
5th largest port on
the lower Mississippi.

Assist Small Businesses
→

Assist Small Businesses
Helps with building improvements & hiring.

Leverage the Port of Memphis
→

Leverage the Port of Memphis
5th largest port on
the lower Mississippi.

Revitalize Neighborhoods
→

Revitalize Neighborhoods
Draws international business
to the area.

Assist Small Businesses
→

Assist Small Businesses
Helps with building
improvements and hiring.

Leverage the Port of Memphis
→

Leverage the Port of Memphis
5th largest port on
the lower Mississippi.
Who We Manage

Port Commission
Created in 1947 to manage the International Port of Memphis, the second largest port on the lower Mississippi.  Learn More >

Foreign Trade Zone 77
Helps companies remain competitive globally by reducing tariff burdens on the import/export of parts/products.  Learn more >
Who We Manage

Port Commission
Created in 1947 to manage the International Port of Memphis, the second largest port on the lower Mississippi.  Learn More >

Foreign Trade Zone 77
Helps companies remain competitive globally by reducing tariff burdens on the import/export of parts/products.  Learn more >
Who We Manage

Port Commission
Created in 1947 to manage the International Port of Memphis, the second largest port on the lower Mississippi.  Learn More >

Foreign Trade Zone 77
Helps companies remain competitive globally by reducing tariff burdens on the import/export of parts/products.
Learn more >
The Leadership

EDGE Board of Directors
EDGE is governed by an eleven-member board of directors appointed by both City of Memphis and Shelby County Mayors and confirmed by the Memphis City Council and Shelby County Commission.
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Of the 11, nine are voting members along with one non-voting member each from  the Memphis City Council and the Shelby County Commission. The EDGE Board of Directors also serves as the governing body for the Industrial Development Board of Memphis and Shelby County and the Depot Redevelopment Corporation of Memphis and Shelby County.Â

Chairman
Al Bright, Jr.

Vice Chairman
Thomas Dyer

Secretary
Dr. Florence Jones

Treasurer
Gerre Currie

Chairman
Al Bright, Jr.

Vice Chairman
Thomas Dyer

Secretary
Dr. Florence Jones

Treasurer
Gerre Currie

Commissioner
Henri E. Brooks

Board Member
Natasha Donerson

Councilman
Edmund Ford, Sr.

Board Member
Mark Halperin

Commissioner
Henir E. Brooks

Board Member
Natasha Donerson

Councilman
Edmund Ford, Sr.

Board Member
Mark Halperin

Board MemberÂ
Vijay Kalaga

Board Member
Cary Vaughn

Board Member
Vijay Kalaga

Board Member
Cary Vaughn

EDGE Economic Development Finance Committee

Chairwoman
Natasha Donerson

Vice Chairwoman
Nita Black

Committee Member
Chad Boyd

Committee Member
Keith Collins

Chairwoman
Natasha Donerson

Vice Chairwoman
Nita Black

Committee Member
Chad Boyd

Committee Member
Keith Collins

Committee Member
Angel L. Price

Committee Member
Portia Scurlock

Committee Member
Luke Yancy, IV

Committee Member
Angel L. Price

Committee Member
Portia Scurlock

Committee Member
Luke Yancy, IV

Memphis & Shelby County Port Commission Board of Directors
A seven-member board of directors governs the Port of Memphis; five are appointed by the EDGE board chairperson and two are ex officio representatives from the City of Memphis and Shelby County.

Chairman
Thomas Dyer

Vice Chairman
Mark Halperin

Secretary
Dr. Florence Jones

Treasurer
Gerre Currie

Chairman
Thomas Dyer

Vice Chairman
Mark Halperin

Secretary
Dr. Florence Jones

Treasurer
Gerre Currie

Board Member
Robert Knecht

Board Member
Cliff Norville

Board Member
Robert Knecht

Board Member
Cliff Norville
The Team

The EDGE Team
The EDGE staff is committed to making a positive impact on Memphis and Shelby County. Working with city, county, and state officials along with development partners, EDGE staff help plan, manage, and implement development projects throughout Memphis and Shelby County.

The EDGE Team
The EDGE staff is committed to making a positive impact on Memphis and Shelby County. Working with city, county, and state officials along with development partners, EDGE staff help plan, manage, and implement development projects throughout Memphis and Shelby County.

Vice President of Economic Development
John Lawrence

Senior Economic Development Specialist
Trey McKnight

Director of Marketing & Communications
Stefanie Barrett

Director of
Research
Adrienne Johnson

Manager, Economic Development Programs
Marjorie Shaw

Office
Manager
Carmen Franklin

Communications & Marketing Specialist
Sarah Thomson
Sarah ThomsonÂ
Communications & Marketing Specialist
Sarah Thomson is a native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., with a BFA degree in theater and liberal arts and an MA degree in journalism from the University of Alabama. She has 14 years of marketing/public relations experience.
John Lawrence
Vice President of Economic Development
With 20 years of experience in economic and community development, Mr. Lawrence administers countywide business attraction and expansion programs, related tax incentives and loans for EDGE. He also continues to manage special research projects. Mr. Lawrence joined EDGE in 2012 to coordinate the Memphis and Shelby County Regional Economic Development Plan, a Brookings Institution Metropolitan Business Planning initiative. This work led to the creation of the Greater Memphis Alliance for a Competitive Workforce, Metro Memphis Export Alliance, and other industry specific initiatives. Prior to joining EDGE, Mr. Lawrence served as Interim Program Manager for Livable Memphis, Executive Director for the Memphis Airport Area Development Corporation, President of Downtown Jackson Partners, Director of Planning & Business Development for the Memphis Center City Commission, and Market Analyst for Trammell Crow Company. Mr. Lawrence holds a Master of Science degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from the University of Memphis.
Trey McKnight
Senior Economic Development Specialist
Trey McKnight has extensive sales and marketing experience in both the public and private sectors, having worked with an international pharmaceuticals company along with the City of Memphis and State of Tennessee. At EDGE, Mr. McKnight is responsible for managing business relationships with companies looking to expand or relocate to Memphis and Shelby County. One of Mr. McKnight’s main responsibilities is managing the EDGE Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program.
Mr. McKnight earned a Bachelor of Science in Business degree in Management & Marketing from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Stefanie Barrett
Director of Marketing & Communications
Stefanie Barrett provides graphic design and marketing support for EDGE with more than 20 years of industry experience. Prior to joining EDGE, Mrs. Barrett served as Principal Owner of Barrett Creative, a full service graphic design and marketing firm. Mrs. Barrett earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Memphis.
Adrienne Johnson
Director of Research
Adrienne Johnson manages data intelligence identifying economic trends to assist with policy making and support business recruitment. Prior to joining EDGE, she served as Vice President of Research for the Greater Memphis Chamber and a part-time economic research instructor for the Council for Council for Community and Economic Research. Ms. Johnson earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Tennessee Tech University as well as a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of Memphis.
Marjorie Shaw
Manager, Economic Development Programs
Marjorie Shaw assists with project compliance and updates associated with EDGE’s PILOT program. Ms. Shaw also provides administrative support with the EDGE TIF, ICED Loan, and Foreign Trade Zone 77 programs. She holds an International Master of Business Administration from the University of Memphis and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of Memphis.
Hannah Borstad
Economic Development Programs Assistant
Bio coming soon!
Carmen Franklin
Office Manager
Carmen Franklin has more than 29 years of experience as an Office Manager.
Randy Richardson
Vice President Port and Industrial Properties/Executive Director, Memphis & Shelby County Port Commission
Mr. Richardson has more than 25 years of experience in industrial, economic, and environmental development for the International Port of Memphis. He oversees all port activities along with maintenance and protection of McKellar Lake/Presidents Island Complex, Pidgeon Industrial Harbor, and Pidgeon Industrial Park. Mr. Richardson serves on several civic and community boards including the National Waterways Conference, the Transportation Research Board in Washington, D.C., the Memphis Plywood Company, and the Board of Inland Rivers, Ports, and Terminals (past Board Chair). He serves as the Chairman of the Board for the Area Maritime Security Committee – Memphis and the Basin Chairman for the Lower Mississippi River. Mr. Richardson is also a member of the Society of American Military Engineers and the Presidents Island Industrial Association. Mr. Richardson holds a Master of Arts degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of Memphis and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Chris Ervin
Crew Person
Chris Ervin works with the Port of Memphis Crew Chief and others to clean and keep in an orderly condition the properties under the jurisdiction and control of the Memphis & Shelby County Port Commission.
Eric Harris
Crew Person
Mr. Harris works with the Port of Memphis Crew Chief and others to clean and keep in an orderly condition the properties under the jurisdiction and control of the Memphis & Shelby County Port Commission.
Amber Shepheard
Office Manager
Amber Shepheard has more than twelve years of administrative experience in both corporate and governmental relations. Ms. Shepheard earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Memphis.
Mark Summerford
Crew Chief
Mark Summerford works under the direction of the Operations Manager and supervises crew members to clean and keep in an orderly condition the properties under the management, jurisdiction and control of the Memphis & Shelby County Port Commission.
Jon Wayne Hall, II
Crew Person
Mr. Hall works with the Port of Memphis Crew Chief and others to clean and keep in an orderly condition the properties under the jurisdiction and control of the Memphis & Shelby County Port Commission.

International Port of Memphis Team

Executive Director, Memphis & Shelby County Port Commission
Randy Richardson

Office Manager
Amber Shepheard

Crew Person
Chris Ervin

Crew Person
Eric Harris

Crew Chief
Mark Summerford
