WASHINGTON – Irene Spanos, director of economic development and community affairs for Oakland County has been named as a member of the FDI Frontlines Coalition, a national organization focused on arming state, regional and local economic development organizations with the resources they need to attract more foreign direct investment.
Spanos was appointed director of the D Development & Community Affairs by Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson in 2011. As director, Spanos oversees the operation of the department and its six divisions: Business Development (attraction/retention), Planning, Finance, Workforce Development, Marketing and Communication and Community & Home Improvement.
Before her appointment, she spent more than five years with the county as a senior business development representative, specializing in the bio-technology and medical devices sectors and was involved in the launch of Medical Main Street, the county’s initiative to grow the life sciences and health care industries in Southeast Michigan. She also worked with companies headquartered in Europe on growing their presence Oakland County.
Spanos majored in marketing and holds a business administration degree from Wayne State University. She is a member of the Swedish, German & French American Chamber of Commerce, and Southfield’s Healthcare Corridor board. Spanos sits on the Mechatronics Certificate advisory board for Oakland Community College, on the advisory board of Oakland University’s Incubator: OU INC and is a member of the Michigan Economic Developers Association and the International Economic Development Council Research Group.
