Roanoke County names economic development director

Megan Baker will be the next director of economic development in Roanoke County, the county announced Monday.

Baker will start Oct. 24. She will replace Jill Loope, who announced her retirement in July. Loope will assist with Baker’s transition, then head up the tourism department in Roanoke County’s parks, recreation and tourism department until she retires in July 2023.

Baker comes to Roanoke from Peachtree City, Georgia, where she has been president of the Fayette County Development Authority. There, she led business attraction and retention programs for Fayette County, which is southeast of Atlanta, and spearheaded development of a 600-acre business park, according to a county news release.

Before she worked in Fayette County, she was policy director for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. She has also held roles at Georgia’s Clayton State University, the Georgia Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

“I am thrilled to be selected to serve as the director of economic development for Roanoke County,” Baker said in a statement. “I look forward to becoming part of the team and building upon the work that’s been done to position Roanoke as a top place to live and do business. My husband and I are excited to become part of the community.” 

Baker has a bachelor’s in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University and a master’s in public affairs from Indiana University. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute and a certified economic developer through the International Development Council.