Dr. Joann Massey recognized with Public Service Leadership Award

EDGE President and CEO Dr. Joann Massey was recently honored with the Public Service Leadership Award during the Greater Memphis Chamber’s Chamber Day at City Hall, a gathering focused on strengthening connections between city leadership and the business community.

Hosted at Memphis City Hall, the inaugural event brought together business leaders, elected officials, and community stakeholders for a morning of discussion centered on policy, infrastructure, innovation, and civic engagement. Through curated sessions and conversations with city leadership, attendees gained insight into how Memphis is addressing key priorities while strengthening connections across sectors.

The event featured sessions on topics including doing business with the City of Memphis, innovation and artificial intelligence in government, and infrastructure and city operations. Leaders from across city government shared updates and perspectives on how Memphis is approaching operational efficiency, technology, and long-term planning to better serve residents and businesses.

The morning concluded with remarks from Memphis City Council Chairwoman Jana Swearengen-Washington and a keynote conversation with Memphis Police Department Chief C.J. Davis focused on public safety, leadership, and engagement with the business community.

For EDGE, the event reinforced that meaningful progress depends on strong relationships across business, government, and community leadership. That perspective made Dr. Massey’s recognition especially meaningful.

As president and CEO of EDGE, Dr. Massey leads efforts to strengthen economic opportunity through business attraction and expansion, entrepreneurship support, strategic infrastructure, neighborhood reinvestment, and cross-sector collaboration. Under her leadership, EDGE continues advancing initiatives that help create jobs, strengthen commercial corridors, support entrepreneurs, and position Memphis and Shelby County for long-term competitiveness.

The Public Service Leadership Award recognized Dr. Massey’s “outstanding civic leadership and enduring commitment to advancing both community and commerce in Greater Memphis,” a reflection of the community-centered approach that defines both her leadership and EDGE’s mission.

In accepting the award, Dr. Massey reflected on the many forms public service can take and the importance of bringing people together around the shared work of creating opportunity for Memphis. That perspective closely reflects what she has coined as “powering progress through partnerships,” a phrase that has become central to EDGE’s approach to economic development and long-term growth.

The Greater Memphis Chamber’s Chamber Day at City Hall highlighted the value of strong civic leadership and continued dialogue between the public and private sectors as Memphis works to build long-term momentum.

EDGE is proud to celebrate Dr. Massey on this well-deserved recognition and grateful for the many organizations and leaders across Memphis and Shelby County helping create opportunity, strengthen communities, and move the region forward.