Opportunity Austin names Susan Davenport as Chief Economic Development Officer

AUSTIN, Texas — Today, Opportunity Austin, the regional economic partnership fostering innovation, investment, workforce development and livability across the Austin region, announced Susan Davenport as the organization’s chief economic development officer. The hiring is effective mid-June.

Davenport currently serves as the president and chief executive officer of the Greater Brazos Partnership, where since July 2023 she has led economic development initiatives across the five-county Greater Brazos Region. She has more than two decades of experience in regional strategy, public-private partnerships and high-impact industry recruitment across Texas’ major markets.

“I’m excited to return to Austin during such a dynamic period of growth and to join Opportunity Austin as we work to foster a job-creating ecosystem in strategic industries. It’s a strong region with many great communities and leaders. I’m looking forward to being a part of it,” Davenport said. “I’m also interested in exploring projects that connect the greater Austin and Brazos regions—two of Texas’s leading innovation and tech hubs, each anchored by a flagship university. Together, these regions exemplify why Central Texas remains the best place in the nation to do business.”

As chief economic development officer, Davenport will lead Opportunity Austin’s efforts to recruit new employers, support the expansion and retention of businesses and drive the advancement of key industry sectors across the Austin region. She will play a key role in aligning regional partnerships and resources to foster innovation, attract investment and strengthen the region’s economic competitiveness.

“Susan is a powerhouse in economic development with a proven track record of driving regional economic growth and forging impactful partnerships,” Ed Latson, chief executive officer of Opportunity Austin, said. “Her strategic mindset and deep understanding of what drives industry growth will elevate the Austin region’s position as a national leader in innovation and investment. We’re fortunate to welcome her back to Austin and have someone of her caliber join our leadership team.”

Prior to leading the Greater Brazos Partnership, Davenport served as the chief economic development officer of the Greater Houston Partnership, where she led the creation and execution of a successful economic development strategy for the 12-county region. Her leadership led to the successful recruitment of a Fortune 500 global headquarters and hundreds of other companies to the region, resulting in the creation of thousands of jobs.

Before that, she served as the president and CEO of the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, along with more than a decade in Austin, where she served on the economic development team at the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. During her time at the Austin Chamber, Davenport helped generate 174,000 new jobs, expanded regional payrolls by $8.7 billion and played a leading role in securing nearly $100 million in innovation and commercialization grants, while supporting the retention and growth of more than 500 employers.

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“Susan brings the experience we need to continue building on our momentum in the Austin region,” Casey Dobson, chairman of Opportunity Austin, said. “She has a deep understanding of what it takes to drive regional economic success and foster the kind of cross-sector collaboration that fuels long-term growth. I’m confident she will help advance our 5.0 campaign and position our region as a global leader.”

About Opportunity Austin

Opportunity Austin is the regional economic partnership fostering innovation, investment, workforce development, and livability across the Austin region. Harnessing the region’s unrivaled economic momentum, its mission is to be a force multiplier for businesses that share the drive for enduring prosperity. Ultimately, the organization improves the strength, power, and performance of our region and those who do business within it. To learn more, visit opportunityaustin.com.