People:Faculty

Scott Hamilton

In January, 2009, the AdvantageWest Board of Directors unanimously promoted Scott to be the organization’s third President & CEO. As CEO, Scott is responsible for implementing policy as determined by the AdvantageWest 19 member Board of Directors and to support the staff with implementation of the program of work. He serves as an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

Scott is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, has enjoyed a varied career in economic development. Before being recruited back to AdvantageWest in 2006 to serve as the organization’s Executive Vice President, Scott served as the President & CEO of the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, Inc., a 501 (c) 6 corporation. Prior to accepting the position in Henderson County, Scott served as Director of Marketing and Site Development for AdvantageWest and subsequent to that, with the Caldwell County Economic Development Commission as the Retention & Expansion Specialist and served as Interim Executive Director.
Before starting his career in economic development, Scott worked in the healthcare industry as the Business Office Manager at Watauga Medical Center in Boone, NC. Scott is currently President of the North Carolina Economic Developers Association and has served as the co-chair of the organization’s Legislative Committee for the past five years. Governor Mike Easley appointed Scott to serve on the North Carolina Economic Development Board during his tenure as president of NCEDA. He is also a member of the International Economic Development Council and the Southern Economic Development Council. He serves on the Board of Directors of the N. C. Rural Economic Development Center and is co-chair of the organization’s Workforce Development Program Committee.

In 2001, Governor Mike Easley appointed Scott to a three-year term on the Governor’s Commission on Workforce Development. In 2005 and 2009, Governor Easley reappointed Scott to four-year terms on the Commission. He also currently serves on the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors. He is a 2002 graduate from the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute. Scott lives in Henderson County with his wife and two daughters.