By City of Phoenix
The City of Phoenix is pleased to announce the appointment of Ryan Touhill as the new Community and Economic Development Director.
Touhill brings nearly two decades of experience in local government and economic development, most recently serving as Director of Arlington Economic Development (AED) in Virginia. There, he led the creation and implementation of AED’s Strategic Plan for Economic Growth, positioning Arlington as a leader in the region’s tech and innovation ecosystem. Under his leadership, AED secured millions in new investment and supported the creation of thousands of jobs, while launching successful initiatives such as the All In Arlington tourism campaign and policies to revitalize commercial districts.
Prior to his role in Arlington, Touhill served as Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff at the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, where he played a key role in securing Amazon’s second headquarters and Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus for Northern Virginia. He also led COVID-19 economic relief programs, supporting hundreds of small businesses and protecting thousands of jobs. Touhill’s career began in the City of Alexandria’s budget and human resources departments, and he has been recognized for his service by Virginia Business Magazine, George Mason University, and the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.
