Albert Alwang Named to 2025 Class of Economic Development 40 Under 40

Please join us in congratulating Albert Alwang, WCED’s Economic Development Director, for being recognized on DCI’s 40 Under 40 list! The program honors individuals who have made a positive impact on their community and achieved success in economic development before turning 40 years old.

Since Albert joined the team in April 2019, Wake County Economic Development has announced 39 projects, totaling more than $5.7B in capital investment and 11,000+ jobs. Albert is a leader in attracting a diverse range of companies to the community, including Weatherby Healthcare, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, Berk-Tek, Sumitomo Pharma Co., FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific, Blue Force Technologies, Marrone Bio Innovations, Algiknit, CCL Label, Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Enrivolight, Gilead, Pennymac, Schmalz and others.

Albert is the driving force behind the Greater Raleigh Chamber’s Business Sustainability Roundtable (BSR). The BSR convenes public and private organizations from across Wake County to support and advance sustainability in the region. The BSR was publicly launched at the Chamber’s first ever Sustainability Conference. Albert led the development of the conference content, ultimately resulting in two sold-out events. Though these events, the Chamber hosted Michael S. Regan, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, among other business and government leaders. 

Looking ahead, the BSR will serve as a forum for companies to learn and share best practices in corporate environmental sustainability, help define priority areas for communities to support economic growth and develop a strategy for the region to be recognized as a leader in environmental sustainability.

Albert serves as a resource and mentor for economic development professionals and programs in municipalities across the state. He frequently participates in panels and speaking engagements in addition to his work with the NCEDA emerging executives’ program. And he did all of this while becoming the proud new dad of a beautiful daughter.

After a successful year as the Vice Chair, Albert now serves as the Chair of the Emerging Executives Initiative of the North Carolina Economic Development Association. Designed expressly for young professionals and for members with less than five years of experience in economic development, the Emerging Executive Initiative deepens the knowledge of new economic developers and increases their familiarity with other aspects of economic development and policymaking in North Carolina. It provides opportunities to participate in focused professional educational opportunities and forge connections with peers in our state’s economic development circles.

NCEDA hosts an annual Emerging Executives Forum to help attendees become more effective and confident professionals. The program helps to pair new economic developers with more seasoned professionals to exchange knowledge and experiences. Now in its second year, Albert was instrumental in reinvigorating the mentor network.

We are also happy to share that Dr. Laura Rowley, Vice President of Life Science Economic Development for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, was honored this year. Laura and the Biotech Center are vital partners to ensuring life sciences continue to thrive in Wake County and beyond.