About

James Smith has over 25 years of municipal government experience, primarily in business/economic development. He assumed the role of Economic and Workforce Development Director for Pinal County in November 2021. In this position, he leads the County’s efforts to attract capital investment and jobs to the region, while also seeking to help ensure the workforce is prepared for the jobs of the future. Prior to assuming his current position with Pinal County, he served as the Economic Development Director for the Town of Fountain Hills, AZ. Previous experience also includes over 12 years with the City of Chandler, where he assisted in the location or expansion of a number of major corporations, including several Fortune 500 companies.

He holds Bachelor’s (Economics) and Master’s (Public Administration) degrees – both from San Jose State University. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute (OUEDI), he is recognized as a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD). In addition, he has achieved the Certified Public Manager (CPM) designation through Arizona State University.