Dr. Candace C. Johnson joined the staff of The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development in October 2012 as the Tourism and Community Development Project Manager. In this position she assists communities in reaching their goals through strategic planning with emphasis on retail development, hospitality, public relations, social media, website design and creative marketing while serving as a liaison to organizations that can assist these communities through various outlets. In April of 2018, Candace was promoted to Tourism and Community Development Director.â