Many might be used to seeing him wear a green bowler as Dublin’s leprechaun, but incoming Dublin Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Brad Stanford is a man of many hats.
He is currently serving on the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, helped organize events, has been a volunteer at the Dublin Airport since 2017 and took on the manager role in 2019 and is a software developer.
Stanford said he was approached by Karen Wright about the position when she had decided to exit to head the newly formed Dublin Museum Cooperative. He was honored but hesitant.
“My initial thought was no, because I finally arrived where I wanted to arrive in my software development Career,” Stanford said. Everything was perfect, but I told her I’m not so dumb as to not think about it first.”
Stanford gave the position a lot of thought, saying he learned long ago that the “direction you need to go is usually not the most convenient.”
“I landed on: ‘Why did you move here? Why did you come to Dublin?,” he said. “Did you want to hide in a cave behind a screen or get out there and make it better. Didn’t you want to play a role and want to help people?”
On the events side and as the airport manager, Stanford has witnessed how EDC can aid the community through its grants programs. Stanford said that the EDC is responsible for making the flight simulator happen so the airport can offer the tri-display simulation with cockpit controls to visitors and events.
“My favorite thing about EDC is returning tax payer money to taxpayers to help business,” said Stanford, referencing the EDC’s funding through sales tax. “There’s a flavor of justice to it.”
Stanford will take over the EDC reins from Wright on Nov. 1. In the meantime, he will train for the position while working to get the software development in a good place and confer with local pilots about what can be handled at the airport and what the facility’s needs are.
“I’m most excited about not being in front of a screen all day long,” Stanford said. “I’m looking forward to getting to go out there and tell business owners, ‘Did you know this money is available?’ I would love to be able to visit all the businesses and be told, ‘No thanks; we’re doing good.’ Until then, the EDC will keep doing what the EDC does.”
Stanford and his wife, Brandynn, have five children, three still at home. The couple moved to Dublin in 2009 from Benbrook, looking for a new environment for their family.