St. Johns County Hires New Economic Development Director

• 8 November 2024
• Category: SJC News Economic Development
• Tags: 2024

Sara Maxfield, CEcD, EDFP, was confirmed as the new Economic Development Director at the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting on Sept. 17, 2024. Maxfield has 15 years of economic and business development experience, including serving as the Manager of Economic & Business Development for Riviera Beach, Fla.; Director of Economic Development for the City of Delray Beach, Fla.; and Executive Director for the Athens County Economic Development Council and the Athens County Port Authority in Ohio. Maxfield sat down for an interview with the Office of Public Affairs to share her experiences and expertise with the community.

“I am excited to be living and working in St. Johns County with my husband,” Maxfield said. “In meeting with our economic development partners, I share their passion and collective purpose to expand and diversify our community’s economy.”

A few highlights of her experience include public-private partnership solicitations, marketing campaigns, community redevelopment agency development projects, and project negotiations. Maxfield also served on the Florida League of Cities Economic Development and Land Use Committee (ACEDC) for the past three years. Prior to joining the ACEDC, she taught at the School of Health Sciences at her alma mater, Ohio University.

Maxfield graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Health from Ohio University and earned her Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation from the International Economic Development Council. She is also a certified Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP). Maxfield has continued her professional development through programs at the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute, the Georgia Institute of Technology, the National Development Council, and the International Economic Development Council.

Maxfield is a member of the International Economic Development Council, the Florida Economic Development Council, and the National Rural Economic Development Association. She is a past board member of the Ohio Economic Development Association, the Area 14 Workforce Development Board, Ohio Southeast (formerly Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth), and the Eastern Ohio Development Alliance, where she served as vice president.

She has volunteered extensively with her church, Rotary International, Ohio Valley Summer Theater, and Arts West in Athens, Ohio.

Maxfield was selected from 52 candidates through a national search, with the assistance of a professional executive recruiting firm.