Meghann Bridgeman announced as next Alabama Film Office director
The Alabama Department of Commerce announced last week the selection of Meghann Bridgeman, president and CEO of Create Birmingham, as the next Director of the Alabama Film Office. With extensive experience in arts and economic development, Bridgeman will lead the state’s efforts to attract, support and promote general entertainment productions across Alabama. Bridgeman brings a wealth of knowledge from her work with Create Birmingham’s Film Birmingham Initiative, where she spearheaded numerous initiatives aimed at fostering creative industries and driving economic growth in the film industry. She has a proven track record of building public-private partnerships and collaborating with entertainment professionals and local communities to create opportunities for growth and innovation. In her new role, Bridgeman will oversee the Alabama Film Office, working to position the state as a premier destination for filmmakers and producers. She will begin her new duties in January 2025. Alabama Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair expressed her confidence in Bridgeman’s leadership and vision for the state’s entertainment industry. “Meghann’s background in creative industries and her passion for economic development make her the perfect fit to lead the Alabama Film Office,” Secretary McNair said. “We are excited about her innovative approach and her commitment to leveraging Alabama’s unique assets to attract more entertainment projects, which will ultimately benefit our local businesses and communities,” she added. The Alabama Film Office, which was established in 1978, has been instrumental in the development of the state’s film and entertainment industry. Over the past several decades, it has attracted a variety of high-profile productions, including films such as Big Fish, 42, and Selma. More recently, Alabama has been the site for a growing number of television productions, documentaries and independent films, which have contributed significantly to local economies through job creation, tourism, and infrastructure development. “In partnership with entertainment industry stakeholders across our state, I look forward to joining the Alabama Department of Commerce as the director of the Alabama Film Office,” Bridgeman said. “The entertainment industry has the power to spark transformational economic growth, and Alabamians should be the beneficiaries of that growth. “I am grateful to Secretary McNair for the opportunity to lead this important effort and excited for the work ahead,” she added. The state’s film incentive program, which includes a competitive rebate structure, has helped to establish Alabama as a compelling destination for production companies. These incentives, along with the state’s diverse locations ranging from picturesque coastlines to historic cities, have made Alabama a go-to option for filmmakers seeking authentic, versatile backdrops. Last year, the industry spent nearly $60 million in Alabama on entertainment productions that included The Rivals of Amziah King, starring Matthew McConaughey and Kurt Russell, and The Shift, featuring Sean Astin. Rebates valued at $16.5 million were extended to productions in 2023, according to data from the Alabama Department of Commerce. Under Bridgeman’s leadership, the Alabama Film Office will continue to build on its success by strengthening partnerships with industry stakeholders, expanding production opportunities, and ensuring that Alabamians benefit from the state’s growing entertainment sector. Future plans could include expanding the office’s traditional focus to encompass additional forms of entertainment, including music productions and video games. The office will also maintain a concentration on workforce development and training, ensuring that Alabama remains competitive in the fast-evolving film and media industries. The Film Office’s longtime director, Kathy Faulk, will remain in charge of the office in the interim. “Kathy’s contributions to the Film Office have been significant over many years, and she has been an untiring champion for expanding Alabama’s presence within the entertainment industry,” Secretary McNair said. “Thanks to her, the Film Office is positioned for exciting new developments in the future.” This story originally appeared on Made in Alabama written by Jerry Underwood. Made in Alabama is a project of the Alabama Department of Commerce.
Personnel Update: Greg Canfield to join Birmingham law firm
Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield, who is leaving his post at the end of the month, has accepted a position at Burr & Forman as their managing director of economic development. “Secretary Canfield and I have worked together for over a decade,” said Burr & Forman Partner Lee Thuston. “He knows economic development — and particularly the automotive sector — inside and out. That knowledge and his leadership will be a great benefit to our clients going forward.” Canfield will head up Burr & Furman’s economic development team. The firm currently has a team of lawyers working on economic development in five states. Canfield is not licensed to practice law and will not be giving legal advice, the company explained in a statement. “Our law firm has long enjoyed a reputation for results in the economic development industry,” explained Burr & Forman CEO Ed Christian. “We are thrilled to have Secretary Canfield joining us to build on that success and ensure seamless, knowledgeable service to our clients.” “Economic expansion is good for communities and good for families. I am proud of what we achieved during my time in the public sector and look forward to continuing those efforts across the Southeast in my new role at Burr & Forman,” Canfield said. Canfield will begin his new duties on January 2, 2024. Canfield was initially appointed by Governor Robert Bentley (R) in 2011. He has worked with Gov. Kay Ivey since 2017. During his 12-year tenure at the Alabama Department of Commerce, the state attracted more than $70 billion in new investments and promises of 180,000 new jobs. Canfield also initiated Commerce’s rural development strategy, participated in trade missions to 30 countries, and launched the long-running “Made in Alabama” brand. Canfield was inducted into the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers’ Association Hall of Fame and the Southern Automotive Manufacturers’ Alliance Hall of Fame. Before he served as Commerce Secretary, Canfield served in the Alabama House of Representatives. Gov. Ivey has appointed Ellen McNair to replace Canfield. McNair is currently for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and has decades of experience in economic development. She had worked with Ivey in the 1980s when Ivey was the number two person at the Alabama Development Office, the precursor to today’s Alabama Department of Commerce. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Personnel Update: Commerce Sec. Greg Canfield to retire, Kay Ivey appoints Ellen McNair
On Friday, Governor Kay Ivey announced that Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield will step down after 12 Years of Service. Ivey announced that she will appoint economic developer Ellen McNair to take over next year. Canfield will stay on until the end of the year. “Throughout my time as governor, we have proudly solidified Alabama as a top state for doing business, and no doubt, Greg has been a key part of that success,” Ivey said. “Together, we have secured more than $42 billion in new investments in our state, which has created 78,000 good-paying jobs,” said Governor Ivey. “Greg will go down as one of Alabama’s best economic development heads, and he will be noted for projects like Mazda Toyota and credited for branding the Made in Alabama name worldwide. I will forever be grateful for all that Greg has accomplished for our state, and I know he will continue having great success in his career.” Previously, Canfield served in the Alabama House of Representatives. In both his role at Commerce and in the Legislature, Canfield has been a champion for pro-business legislation. In this past legislative session, he helped Gov. Ivey pass Alabama’s economic incentive package, “The Game Plan.” Ivey says this legislation will help the state continue attracting businesses and industry and support existing companies for years to come. After a long career in the private sector, Secretary Canfield took the helm of the Alabama Development Office in 2011 and reorganized the department into the Department of Commerce. During his tenure, Alabama launched its first-ever strategic economic development plan: Accelerate Alabama. The state has established new records in international exports, capital investment, and job creation. Secretary Canfield represented Alabama on business and trade missions to 30 countries across the globe and is credited for launching Commerce’s successful rural development strategy. “I am proud to have been a part of Governor Ivey’s cabinet, and I am proud of the team of professionals we have assembled at Commerce. I am more confident than ever that Alabama is poised for a robust era of economic expansion that will transform the trajectories of communities and families across the state,” said Secretary Canfield. “I am honored to have made a contribution to the effort to improve Alabama’s future, and I know that the momentum we’ve built will continue to grow in the capable hands of Ellen McNair.” McNair will take over the Commerce Department on January 1. McNair is currently chief economic development officer with the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. Throughout McNair’s tenure at the Chamber, she has successfully worked on almost 600 national and international projects with a capital investment of over $8 billion, resulting in nearly 30,000 new jobs for the Montgomery community. “I have known Ellen since my days at the Alabama Development Office, and I know she will be of tremendous value to the state of Alabama,” Ivey said. “She sees past just the investment and jobs numbers and knows that these results are changing the lives of Alabama families. Ellen has partnered with Greg and I to bring growth to the Montgomery area, and I am confident we will see success like that all over the state.” McNair was the senior project manager and a member of the negotiating team that brought Hyundai Motors Corporation to Montgomery. Former Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange and current Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed described McNair as a “smooth bulldog” and “tenacious.” “I am extremely honored to have been selected by Governor Kay Ivey for this very important role,” McNair said. “Economic development has been a passion and focus for the governor her entire career. The success of the state under Governor Ivey’s and Secretary Canfield’s leadership is unprecedented. These will certainly be big shoes to fill.” “I have great respect for Secretary Canfield and the Commerce team, and we will work together for a smooth transition,” McNair continued. “The state of Alabama is blessed with many strong local and regional economic development professionals, and I look forward to working closely with them and the entire state team to continue Alabama’s smart and strategic economic development.” Before working with the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, McNair worked for the Alabama Department of Commerce. McNair first entered the economic development sector after graduate school in the Department of Economics at Auburn University. At that time, Governor Ivey served as assistant director of the Alabama Development Office, now known as the Department of Commerce. McNair comes to lead the Department of Commerce with 40 years of economic development experience and a handful of firsts. On top of being the first female project manager at the Alabama Department of Commerce, she was the first woman Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) in Alabama and one of a handful of economic development professionals in Alabama with this designation. She was also the first woman president of the Economic Development Association of Alabama and the first woman to lead a major metro area’s economic development effort in the state. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
