PRESS RELEASE – For Immediate Release
Arlington, VA – The Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) is pleased to announce the election of Dominique Halaby as Vice Chair and the appointment of Jill Foys and Adrienne Johnston to the CREC Board of Directors. Their terms began on July 1, 2026.
Dominique Halaby serves as Associate Vice President for Innovation at Georgia Southern University, where he oversees the Business Innovation Group and the university’s innovation and technology transfer initiatives. Previously, he directed the Center for Community and Business Research at the University of Texas at San Antonio and led workforce and economic development initiatives in the Rio Grande Valley. He is Past President of the University Economic Development Association and serves on several boards and commissions.
Jill Foys serves as Executive Director of the Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, where she leads regional economic and community development initiatives across eight counties. Throughout her career, she has focused on regional economic development, workforce partnerships, and strengthening collaboration between education and industry. Foys previously served as President of the Local Development District Association of Pennsylvania.
Adrienne Johnston is President and CEO of CareerSource Florida, where she leads Florida’s statewide workforce development system and oversees strategic workforce policy and investment initiatives. Previously, she served as Deputy Secretary of Workforce Services and Chief Economist for Florida Commerce, leading data-driven workforce and economic research initiatives that support businesses, workers, and policymakers across the state.
“Dominique, Jill, and Adrienne bring outstanding expertise and leadership to the Board,” said Ken Poole, CEO of CREC. “Their experience will help advance CREC’s mission and strengthen our impact.”
Founded in 2000, CREC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping regions compete and prosper by providing research, technical assistance, data analytics, and strategic guidance. Working with public, private, nonprofit, and academic partners, CREC develops innovative solutions that strengthen workforce systems, support economic development, and improve decision-making through high-quality data and analysis.
Media Contact:
Ken Poole
President & CEO
CREC
kpoole@crec.net – 703-504-2866