Mayor Richard C. Irvin and the Board of Directors of Invest Aurora, Aurora’s public/private economic development partnership, announced the appointment of the former economic development director of Choose DuPage, Bryan Gay, as the new president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Invest Aurora.
Gay was introduced to City Council during the Tuesday, Dec. 18 City Council meeting.
Gay has held several executive positions in state and local government organizations. During his tenure with Choose DuPage, he supported municipal economic development initiatives, helped retain and attract businesses, and marketed DuPage County as a premier global business location.
“As we conducted a comprehensive search for a new visionary leader to take the reins at Invest Aurora, we knew someone with proven results who could hit the ground running on day one was mandatory,” Irvin said. “Not only does Bryan come to the table with that experience, he brings innovative ideas and a network of connections to benefit Aurora. We are excited to continue building Aurora together with Bryan and his team at Invest Aurora.”
Gay said he’s been excited for the opportunity since he first learned about it. “Once I was offered the position and dived into the portfolio of current and impending projects, I became even more excited. There’s definitely many incredible things happening here. The Invest Aurora team will be the integral resource it should and can be for the community.”
As the president and chief executive officer of Invest Aurora, Gay will oversee all internal operations while working closely with his team to stimulate the economy by leveraging public and private partnerships that will attract and expand business ventures in Aurora.
“I’m looking forward to continuing a productive relationship with my colleagues in the local economic development and planning communities,” said Gay. “My familiarity with the area, current projects and the overall landscape of the industry will help in making a smooth transition into my new role.”
Gay is a graduate of Drake University and the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute.