Get to know the Beaufort County EDC
The Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation (BCEDC) is the lead entity for organizing, structuring and leading economic development efforts on behalf of Beaufort County.
Our Vision: To be the collaborative driver for leading economic development efforts in the communities we serve.
Our Mission: We engage key stakeholders to diversify the county’s economy, attract investments, create well-paying jobs, respecting the natural environment.
Meet the BCEDC Team
Meet the people who make up our amazing team.
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Proud Member of the Southern Carolina Regional Development Alliance
Meet the BCEDC Team
John O'Toole
Executive Director
John A. O’Toole is the Executive Director of the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation. John is responsible for business, retention, expansion and attraction to Beaufort County which includes Bluffton, Beaufort, Port Royal and Hilton Head Island. In addition to these functions John facilitates public policy discussion in the areas of best practices in land use and workforce development. Prior to joining the BCEDC John worked for Eversource Energy in Connecticut for 18 years. In that function John supported the Eversource’s efforts in the community, economic policy, business and community development and served as the company’s chief liaison to key state and regional economic development organizations.
John served three terms as the chief elected official of Seymour, Connecticut. In that function John lead revitalization efforts in downtown, aggressive efforts to market and fill the town’s industrial park, as well as regional efforts to address brownfields and stimulate economic development. John received his bachelor’s degree from Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, his master’s in business administration from the University of New Haven and has been designated a Certified Economic Developer by the International Economic Development Council.
Kelli Brunson
Senior Project Manager
Kelli Brunson is the Senior Project Manager for the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation, where she focuses on business recruitment and fostering economic growth in the region. She leads efforts to attract new investment, create quality jobs, and strengthen Beaufort County’s competitive position.
Originally from Manning, S.C., Kelli attended the University of South Carolina Beaufort and graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management. Following graduation, she joined the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, where she served for seven years as Research and Digital Marketing Coordinator and later as Director of Programs & Events. She is a graduate of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber’s Leadership Program (class of 2018) and earned her master’s degree in education in 2022 from the University of Georgia in Learning, Leadership, and Organization Development.
In 2024, Kelli graduated from both the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management (June) and the South Carolina Economic Developer’s Institute (November).
Brian Warner
Economic Development Specialist
Brian Warner is the Economic Development Specialist for the BCEDC. Warner most recently served as Project Manager for Hampton County for Southern Carolina Regional Development Alliance (SCA). During this time, he acted as a key liaison between county councils, local economic development corporations, and the State of South Carolina. Warner’s role also involved completing Requests for Information (RFIs), managing Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs), site selection assistance, incentive package development, and overseeing comprehensive plans for the counties within the alliance. His work in this role has been pivotal in driving both new industry and existing industry expansion projects.
Warner earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) with a concentration in Economics from Georgia Gwinnett College, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He has also completed the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Basic Economic Development Course at Georgia Institute of Technology and is currently pursuing the IEDC Certified Economic Developer designation. Additionally, he completed the South Carolina Economic Development Institute program through the South Carolina Economic Development Association (SCEDA) in November 2023.