After making her mark in West Alabama, Tuck accepts new position
Building on a wealth of experience in creating opportunities, Brenda Tuck became the executive director of the Marengo County Economic Development Agency in 2012.
During the past four years that Tuck has worked with the MCEDA, she has helped bring up to 20 businesses to the region.
Now she is looking forward to the next step in her career. She will soon leave her position to work with the Alabama Industry Developmental Training team in the Alabama Department of Commerce.
Tuck said she is looking forward to taking her experience gained at MCEDA and earlier positions to the state level.
Looking back on her career, Tuck said, “Driving by the first industrial park I worked at and seeing it now filled makes me proud. You realize you had a hand in that. Every car there is a person, a family being supported and that is awesome.”
One of Tuck’s projects she is most proud of is the conversion of the National Guard Armory in Linden into a business incubator and office spaces. She said, “This place here in Linden has been talked about all over the state and further out than that. The way I was able to pull together the Armory Commission and Extension to sell them on the idea of a small business incubator was huge.”
Today the Center is home to Marengo County’s 4-H program, several small businesses such as a local food processing line and an upholstery business, and the local Extension office.
Tuck has been working in the economic development field for the past 16 years. She gained valuable experience at the Pioneer Electric Cooperative. Tuck said, “I was fortunate to join their economic development team and work with George Alford Jr.”
Tuck’s long-time friend Alford said, “She always wanted to get the task done. I am so proud of her.”
Another friend who she worked with at the American Candy Company in Selma, Dana Wilkes, said, “I always call her superwoman. She is an incredible mother, worker and friend. The most impressive thing about Brenda is how much she does for other people.”
Tuck, the daughter of Maurice and Wanda Kirk, grew up in Athens, Alabama. After graduating with honors from Clements High School, Tuck attended Wallace Community College. She completed her bachelor’s degree in business administration at Faulkner University in Montgomery.
Four years later, she returned to Auburn University Montgomery to earn her master’s degree in international relations. She was an inaugural Prince Khaled Fellowship recipient at AUM.
In 1995, Tuck moved with her husband Shane to southwest Alabama.
As she prepares for her new position in Montgomery, Tuck said, “What I liked most from the beginning was helping someone.”
Since 2012, Tuck has given of her time to serve as a community partner in the Auburn Living Democracy initiative, sharing her experience in economic development and life with Living Democracy students who live in Linden for the summer. She also volunteers with Bridges of Faith, an organization that brings Ukrainian orphans to visit Alabama three or four times a year.
Tags: Linden