Va. Beach economic development director to depart
Taylor Adams takes job in Nevada
Published
Taylor V. Adams, Virginia Beach’s deputy city manager and director of economic development, confirmed Tuesday night he will be leaving Virginia Beach after eight years. He will become the next president and CEO of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN), he said Wednesday.
His last day is June 30.
Last summer, Adams was a finalist for the position of city manager in Salem, Oregon, a job that went to a Washington city administrator instead.
He began working for Virginia Beach in 2015 as a purchasing agent and was promoted to finance operations administrator before becoming interim director of economic development for the city in 2018. That year, his predecessor resigned amid an embezzlement scandal. In July 2019, he became the permanent director of economic development for the city and was named deputy city manager in 2021.
Before coming to Virginia Beach, Adams served as chief administrative officer and director of finance for Starkville, Mississippi, and worked for Mississippi State University, his alma mater, as purchasing manager. He also worked as a partner and operations officer for Benefits Concepts PA in Columbus, Mississippi, and as a business development officer and commercial credit analyst for the National Bank of Commerce.
According to Fox 11 in Reno, Adams was chosen by EDAWN’s board after a nationwide search that yielded more than 100 candidates. He will replace Mike Kazmierski, who is set to step down after 12 years on Aug. 1. EDAWN includes Reno, Sparks and Tahoe.
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