NASHVILLE,Tenn. –  Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency Executive Director Phil Ryan today announced he has named Mark Drury as MDHA’s new director of communications. Drury is the former assistant commissioner for communications at the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD). Drury will be responsible for media relations as well as internal and external publications for the organization which is a key partner in urban redevelopment and affordable housing in Nashville.  “I’m pleased to have someone of Mark’s experience joining our team,” said Ryan. “His tenure as a local journalist and his experience in government have given him a broad range of contacts both in the media and the community and I’m convinced MDHA and our community will benefit from his knowledge.”

 

Drury spent the past six and a half years at ECD, a period which saw the agency recognized as the most competitive state in the U.S. for job creation. During his tenure, ECD launched its first efforts in the area of social media and web site analytics. Drury also led the agency’s initiatives promoting exports by Tennessee companies to foreign markets. Prior to joining ECD, Drury managed public affairs for the Tennessee operations of Dell, Inc. and served as press secretary for former Nashville Mayor Phil Bredesen. He was also a reporter for WTVF-TV, Channel 5 in Nashville from 1988 to 1998.

 

“I’m grateful to Executive Director Ryan and the board members of MDHA for their confidence in me and for the opportunity to join the MDHA team,” said Drury. “My goal is to provide clear, understandable communications to members of the media and the community in a timely manner and to develop useful content for MDHA’s constituent groups through a variety of media.”

 

 

The Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency administers a variety of urban and community development projects, works to increase the availability of affordable housing, and leads and supports revitalization efforts in downtown and neighborhoods throughout the city.

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