February 5, 2024

MCEDC Welcomes Frankie Clogston, Ph.D., as VP, Research and Policy, to Support Economic Development in Montgomery County, Maryland

For Immediate Release:
February 5, 2024

Contact: 
communications@thinkmoco.com

Rockville, Md – Frankie Clogston, Ph.D., has joined the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) as its new Vice President, Research and Policy. Clogston brings to this position an extensive background of more than 20 years in qualitative and quantitative research and technical assistance in economic development and economic policy. 

In this role, she will serve as a member of MCEDC’s leadership team and design and execute research projects, providing support across departments. She will use data and stakeholder input to support economic growth for businesses in Montgomery County. She will also represent the organization on councils, in the media, on boards, and participate in selected task forces and workgroups.

“We are honored to have Dr. Clogston join our team, bringing to our organization her industry expertise and passion for accelerating local economic development,” said Bill Tompkins, President & CEO of MCEDC. “Her contributions in economic research and policy will be invaluable to our team, and her focus on the development of multi-year strategic plans will help create a roadmap for greater economic success in Montgomery County.”

Clogston previously worked as vice president of Knowledge Management and Development for the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). At IEDC, Clogston helped design and launch the Equity Fellow Program and directed IEDC’s flagship project in equity, the Equitable Economic Development Playbook, of which MCEDC was in the inaugural cohort.

She also steered the organization’s work assisting communities recovering from COVID-19, hurricanes and other natural disasters. She was a primary contributing author of IEDC publications on topics including disaster recovery, strategic planning, workforce development and renewable energy. 

Clogston has worked in economic consulting firms in Montgomery County and Silicon Valley, where she focused on affordable housing, workforce development and economic development projects locally, nationally and internationally.

Clogston has also worked as a journalist covering policy and politics for local, national and international news outlets. Additionally, she has taught political science courses at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland Baltimore County and Labor Economics at the University of Richmond.

She holds a doctoral degree in political science and a master’s degree in applied economics from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree with a double major in urban studies and economics from Stanford University.

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ABOUT MONTGOMERY COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MCEDC)
Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) is the official public-private economic development organization representing Montgomery County, Maryland, and is funded by the Montgomery County Government. Created in 2015, MCEDC is led by a Board of Directors of business executives. Its mission is to accelerate business development, attraction, retention and expansion in key industry sectors while advancing equitable and inclusive economic growth.