Staff
Kara Palmer Smith
Kara Palmer Smith joined the staff of the Economic Development Council (EDC) in July 2007 and currently works as the Senior Manager for Business Development. Kara is responsible for project development, existing industry development, management of seven industry sector roundtables and International Business Development.
Prior to joining the EDC, Kara served as Director of Employment and Media Services for ECHO. Her responsibilities included workforce development, employ-ability skills training, sales & marketing, human resources liaison and media relations.
After earning a Bachelor degree in journalism from Florida A&M University Kara decided to call Tallahassee home. She serves on the board of directors for the Tallahassee Lenders Consortium as well as the executive board for the Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In 2003, she was named “Business Associate of the Year” awarded by the American Business Women’s Association Capital Chapter.
Kara is intensely involved in her community; she has been featured in the Tallahassee Democrat’s STYLES community profile. Kara is a member of the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s International Business Committee; past member of the Big Bend SHRM’s Board of Directors and plays an active role with Delta Sigma Theta’s International Awareness Committee.
In her spare time, Kara enjoys volunteering with various community organizations, traveling and spending time with her husband, family and friends at the beach. Originally from the Caribbean island of Jamaica, she is working on several projects to aid with the rebuilding of Haiti.