Effective Jan. 1, Kelley Mattlage has been promoted to serve as chief operating officer for the East Montgomery County Improvement District, officials announced in a Dec. 8 news release.

What's happening?

Mattlage, who currently serves as EMCID's chief communications officer, will maintain her marketing and public relations duties, while also adding human resources and event and office management duties to her role. Per the release, Mattlage will also serve as liaison to the district's 210,000-square-foot convention center, which is set to open in late 2026.

"I am truly excited about opportunities this role provides, and I'm well-equipped to manage the challenges that come along with it," Mattlage said in a statement. "I look forward to working with our talented team to optimize our processes and more efficiently realize our goals, putting forth a company image employees can get behind and the community can support. These are exciting times for EMCID, and I am honored to help lead the organization into the future."

Career history

According to the release, Mattlage has nearly 30 years of experience in media, public relations and marketing. During her tenure with EMCID, Mattlage:

• Introduced "The Insider," a district newsletter, which is distributed to more than 50,000 households
• Increased EMCID's social media following by more than 1,000%
• Spearheaded the most successful "A Holiday to Remember" event in 2020, which saw more than 34,900 attendees
• Engaged in recruitment for domestic and international companies to EMCID's industrial park
• Worked in conjunction with the architects of EMCID's convention center

"Promoting Kelley to chief operating officer was a natural decision, rooted in her expertise, dedication and deep understanding of the intricacies of our unique organization, needs of the community and strategic vision," EMCID President and CEO Frank McCrady said in a statement. "The board of directors and I value her judgement and business acumen. She has a common-sense approach, and I have often looked to her to oversee tough jobs or provide her perspective on issues. Her proven leadership over the last 11-plus years has prepared her to take on the broader operational responsibilities that are critical for our next phase of growth."

Some context

Created through state legislation and voter approval in 1997, EMCID is responsible for developing and encouraging economic and community development within its 158-square-mile boundaries. Per the release, the district is led by eight elected board members and collects money through sales tax.