Brookley Barnes serves as the Director of Economic Development for Grow NELA. A committed leader with a passion for impact-driven advocacy and economic growth, Barnes has extensive experience in business development, market analysis, project management, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communication.
Prior to joining Grow NELA, she served as Senior Portfolio Director at Retail Strategies, where she played an instrumental role in helping communities attract national businesses and drive economic growth. Managing a portfolio across four states and 21 client cities, she successfully led efforts to enhance local economies through targeted retail recruitment and the optimization of geographic datasets and demographic insights. Notable project wins include securing Dave & Buster’s in Spokane Valley, WA, and Starbucks in Firebaugh, CA.
Her background also includes leadership roles in government affairs. As Director of Government Affairs and Customer Success at Clearview AI, she developed and executed engagement strategies with federal, state, and local legislators, ensuring alignment with emerging regulatory landscapes. In her role as Advocacy Events Manager for the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, Barnes led high-impact legislative initiatives, organized large-scale advocacy events, and fostered collaboration between business leaders, regional economic partners, and policymakers. She also represented the Jefferson Chamber in Leadership Jefferson’s Class of 2021, a nine-month program designed to cultivate a dynamic network of engaged business and community leaders.
Barnes began her advocacy career in Washington, D.C., as Director of Government Relations for Corley + Pipes Consulting, where she managed a broad range of policy issues – from high-skilled immigration to federal funding for scientific research – for a diverse portfolio of clients, including Fortune 500 companies, municipal governments, and industry coalitions.
Barnes, a Birmingham, AL native, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Information Sciences from The University of Alabama. After living and building her career in Washington, D.C., New Orleans, and Fort Worth, she and her husband, David Barnes Jr., returned home to Monroe, LA, where they live with their goldendoodle, Sunday.
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“I am thrilled to join Grow NELA and contribute to the continued economic success of Northeast Louisiana. Our region is at the forefront of a new era of economic opportunity and growth, and I am eager to work alongside our businesses, community leaders, and stakeholders to nurture sustainable progress and thoughtful investment.”