Community Development Institute Southeast 2024 (speakers for 2025 coming soon!)
Keynote: Navigating Change as an Economic Developer
Speaker: Greg Canfield
Greg Canfield serves as Managing Director of Economic Development at Burr & Forman. In this role, he works closely with the firm’s Economic Development Team, which includes lawyers across five states. The team handles economic development matters regarding site selection, incentive negotiation and implementation, choice of entity and tax structure, construction, real estate, environmental permitting, contraction negotiations, and government relations. Prior to joining Burr, Greg served for twelve years as Secretary of Commerce for the State of Alabama. During Greg’s service he secured more than $70 billion in new investments, creating 180,000 jobs; launched Commerce’s successful rural development strategy; and led trade missions to 30 countries. His efforts resulted in recognition in the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers’ Association Hall of Fame and the Southern Automotive Manufacturers’ Alliance Hall of Fame.
Greg also served as a State Representative for the State of Alabama from 2006-2011. During his tenure, he served on the House Leadership Team and as Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Small Business. Greg attended the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he earned his B.S. in Finance. Greg has been married to his wife Denise since 1983, and they are the parents of Rachel Canfield Young and John Canfield.