Drussell celebrated for 10 years with the Copperas Cove EDC

Special to the Leader-Press

The Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation is celebrating Diane Drussell for ten years of service to the City of Copperas Cove.

Diane is the Assistant Director of the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation and has been working with small businesses since 2007. She first began her time here in 2013 as the Business Retention Specialist.

Even as the EDC went through massive changes while transitioning from under the city, Drussell was able to completely re-establish the Copperas Cove EDC from the ground up, filling every position as the organization went from a staff of five to just her.

The EDC’s leadership call her a powerful presence in our community. She is passionate about building authentic relationships with local business owners, leaders of the community, citizens, countless organizations, and industry contacts.

She is an amazing asset for our local small business owners and entrepreneurs as she values supporting them in every way possible. From offering business counseling, marketing advice, and training, she prioritizes equipping business owners with the knowledge and resources they can use to be successful.

She even created, started, and managed the Entrepreneur Center to max capacity during its existence, and is currently working towards establishing and opening a much needed new entrepreneur center and co-working space for our community.

JC Stubbs, current EDC board chair, expressed his thanks to Drussell for her role in the community.

“We are delighted to celebrate Diane's 10 years with the Copperas Cove EDC. She has been an invaluable part of our and the community's success. We are so appreciative of her and look forward to her continued success for many years to come,” he said.

Fred Welch came on board as the EDC’s executive director in early 2022 and can already attest to Drussell’s accomplishments.

“Diane is a champion for Copperas Cove. She has grown professionally over the past 15 years and fully understands the many disciplines required for successful economic and community development,” said Welch.

Over the past decade, Drussell has worked on numerous CCEDC projects from managing, maintaining, and promoting the Narrows Business and Technology Park, the Joint-Use Rail/Intermodal Project with Fort Hood and surrounding cities, planning and executing community events, organizing and hosting yearly Small Business Saturday events (participating in the national American Express campaign,) and workforce development with the local colleges.

She sees the potential Copperas Cove has and encourages its evolution towards it. Her dedication has not gone unnoticed. Without her, the Copperas Cove EDC would not be what it is today.

The Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation thanks Drussell for her leadership, dedication, and commitment to Copperas Cove’s economic growth.