County names development director

The man at the helm of Columbia County's economic development ship has already got the thumbs-up from his crew.

Zack Daffin started as the Columbia County Development Authority Executive Director last week.

"We had a lot of qualified people interested in the job," said Development Authority Chairman Bill Coleman. "Daffin was No. 1 with everybody."

Daffin comes to Columbia County from the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama in Birmingham, where he was the director of business development and helped land a $1 billion Hyundai factory.

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A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Daffin also served 15 years as a developer with Alabama Power and the Southern Company's Alabama Power operation. Daffin replaces Bryan Quinsey, who resigned in February and now is president and CEO of Greene County Partnership in Greeneville, Tenn.

"He'll be a good fit for Columbia County," said Mark Mills, chairman of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce.

Daffin said he's ready to get to work.