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's Bio
John A. O’Toole, CEcD, SCCED, serves as the Executive Director of the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation. In this leadership role, he oversees business retention, expansion, and attraction within Beaufort County, encompassing Bluffton, Beaufort, Port Royal, and Hilton Head Island. Additionally, Mr. O’Toole facilitates public policy discussions focused on best practices in economic development, land use, and workforce development.
Before joining BCEDC, Mr. O’Toole spent 18 years at Eversource Energy in Connecticut. There, he supported community engagement, economic policy, and business development initiatives, acting as the company’s chief liaison to state and regional economic development organizations.
Mr. O’Toole completed three terms as the chief elected official of Seymour, Connecticut, where he led downtown revitalization projects, implemented marketing and occupancy strategies for the town’s industrial park, and contributed to regional brownfield remediation and economic development efforts. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, and an MBA from the University of New Haven. He is recognized as a Certified Economic Developer by the International Economic Development Council and has earned the designation of South Carolina Certified Economic Developer (SCCED), signifying advanced expertise and leadership in the field.
Kelli Brunson
Senior Project Manager
Kelli's Bio
Kelli Brunson serves as Senior Project Manager for the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation, where she supports business recruitment, investment attraction, and job creation across Beaufort County.
A Manning, South Carolina native, Kelli earned a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from the University of South Carolina Beaufort. She spent seven years with the Hilton Head Island–Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, holding roles in research, digital marketing, and programs and events. Kelli also holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Georgia in Learning, Leadership, and Organization Development.
Kelli is a graduate of the Hilton Head Island–Bluffton Chamber Leadership Program (class of 2018) and completed both the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management and the South Carolina Economic Developer’s Institute in 2024.
Brian Warner
Economic Development Specialist
Brian's Bio
Brian Warner serves as Economic Development Specialist with the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation. He leads the organization’s Business Retention and Expansion program and supports product development, workforce initiatives, and job creation efforts across Beaufort County.
Before joining BCEDC, Brian worked with the SouthernCarolina Regional Development Alliance, where he managed Requests for Information, Qualifications, and Proposals, supported site selection efforts, and helped guide comprehensive planning efforts for his assigned counties. His work focused on positioning communities competitively and responding effectively to prospect inquiries.
Brian earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Economics from Georgia Gwinnett College. He completed the South Carolina Economic Developers Institute in 2023 and is currently pursuing the Certified Economic Developer designation through the International Economic Development Council, continuing his coursework at the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. He also serves on the Emerging Leaders and Membership Committees of the South Carolina Economic Developers Association.