Michelle Black

Fueled by a vision for sustainable and equitable prosperity, Michelle thrives as an economic development professional with a forward-thinking approach. Her experience working at city, county, and regional levels has equipped her with a versatile skillset encompassing research, data analysis, program development, branding and marketing, and stakeholder engagement.

Michelle’s innovative mindset allows her to translate complex data into actionable insights, fostering clear communication for informed decision-making. Her excellent communication skills bridge the gap between industry leaders, investors, and community stakeholders, fostering a collaborative environment that propels communities toward a thriving future. As a champion of innovation, Michelle embraces fresh approaches to economic development and inspires hope for the future, ensuring the communities she serves reach their full potential.

Real Results

Michelle joined the Camoin Associates team in 2024. Some of her featured projects were performed in previous roles.

Strategic Plan | Northeast TN Regional Hub | Michelle played a pivotal role in helping craft a strategic plan for the Northeast Tennessee region in collaboration with the Northeast TN Regional Hub. Her contributions spanned various aspects of the project, including conducting in-depth research, facilitating interviews, evaluating programming options, shaping the Hub’s organizational and board structure, and developing branding and marketing strategies.

Annual Report | Northeast TN Regional Economic Partnership (NeTREP) | Using her branding and marketing expertise, Michelle created the award-winning 2020 Northeast Tennessee Regional Economic Partnership Annual Report. Leveraging her skills, she designed, formatted, researched, wrote articles, and crafted infographics for the report. This impactful report effectively communicated NeTREP’s work across the Johnson City metro area, earning recognition with an award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

Meet the Mountains Festival | Northeast TN Regional Economic Partnership | Now a Johnson City, TN, tradition, the Meet the Mountains Festival has thrived under Michelle’s leadership since its inception five years ago. This premier outdoor recreation festival in Northeast Tennessee attracts over 10,000 attendees annually, a testament to her tireless efforts in developing, planning, logistics, mapping, and eventually co-chairing the event. Michelle’s dedication ultimately led her to hand off the reins to Visit Johnson City (Johnson City’s Convention and Visitors Bureau), ensuring the festival’s continued success.

Tennessee Main Street Designation | Johnson City Development | Authority Michelle spearheaded Johnson City’s Tennessee Main Street Application. Her dedication was evident in her comprehensive work, encompassing research, historic district mapping, surveys, and the final application. This successful effort secured Johnson City’s Tennessee Main Street community designation, unlocking access to the National Main Street program and valuable grant opportunities.