SCEDA announces 2026 Annual Awards and Scholarship Recipients
June 9, 2026
Garrett Dragano, John Wall, Jonathan Bennett, and Darlene Sparks
The South Carolina Economic Developers’ Association (SCEDA) recently recognized four members with annual awards and scholarships honoring leadership, service and commitment to advancing the economic development sector across South Carolina.
The 2026 honorees are emerging and established professionals representing public and private entities across the state.
Rising Star Award: Garrett Dragano, County of Lexington Economic Development
The Rising Star Award recognizes a SCEDA member who has demonstrated exceptional growth, initiative and impact early in their economic development career. Award winners demonstrate an appetite for excellence and an aptitude for learning new skills or mastering new responsibilities, as well as initiative and professionalism in the field.
Garrett Dragano, Director of the County of Lexington Department of Economic Development, was named SCEDA’s 2026 Rising Star in recognition of the impact he has made early in his tenure.
Since joining Lexington County in 2023, Dragano has played a key role in advancing business retention, long-term planning and industrial site readiness initiatives. He is recognized for a forward-looking, data-informed approach that emphasizes coordination with local stakeholders, including county leadership and regional partners. His responsibilities include site evaluation, market research and oversight of projects supporting the county’s economic development strategy.
Ally Award: John Wall, Burr & Forman
The Ally Award recognizes an individual in the private sector who provides exceptional support to economic development efforts across South Carolina and contributes meaningfully to the success of communities and practitioners statewide.
John Wall, a partner with Burr & Forman and SCEDA’s 2026 Ally Award recipient, was recognized for his longstanding support of South Carolina’s economic development community, including his leadership on SCEDA’s legislative committee and his commitment to strengthening the state’s business climate.
Recognized for his professionalism and collaborative approach, Wall has worked alongside economic development professionals across the state on a wide range of projects, serving as a trusted partner and advocate for community and regional competitiveness. He is widely respected for his service to SCEDA and his ongoing efforts to support policies that enhance South Carolina’s competitiveness and business environment.
Wall is also a U.S. Army veteran, having served with distinction in multiple deployments overseas, earning both the Presidential Unit Citation and the Valorous Unit Award.
Truman H. Safford Basic Economic Development Course Scholarship: Jonathan Bennett, County of Lexington Economic Development
The Truman H. Safford Scholarship supports professional development by providing funding for participation in the International Economic Development Council’s Basic Economic Development Course, a foundational training program for emerging practitioners in the field.
Jonathan Bennett, Economic Development Manager with County of Lexington Department of Economic Development, was selected for his commitment to professional growth and his contributions to advancing industrial site readiness and business engagement initiatives within the county.
In his role, Bennett supports efforts related to site evaluation, research and market analysis, and long-term planning initiatives that help position communities for economic prosperity. He also contributes to stakeholder engagement and business outreach efforts supporting regional competitiveness.
Prior to his current role, Bennett served as a Business Consultant with South Carolina State University, where he supported entrepreneurs and business clients across a multi-county region. He also interned with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, supporting research, outreach and communications initiatives tied to industry development.
Irwin Maceo Nance S.C. Economic Development Institute Scholarship: Darlene Sparks, The LINK
The Irwin Maceo Nance Scholarship awards one registration to the South Carolina Economic Development Institute, a long-standing professional development program focused on building knowledge and collaboration among economic development and community leadership professionals across the state.
Darlene Sparks, Manager of Investor and Stakeholder Relations with TheLINK Alliance, was recognized for her commitment to strengthening regional partnerships and advancing collaborative economic development efforts.
In her role, Sparks leads relationship-building efforts with investors, public agencies and regional partners to support business attraction, retention and expansion initiatives. She also supports strategic engagement efforts designed to strengthen coordination across municipalities, organizations and industry stakeholders.
Through her work, Sparks fosters connections across key community sectors and enhances regional capacity to support long-term economic vitality.
About SCEDA
The South Carolina Economic Developers’ Association (SCEDA) is the leading professional organization for economic developers in the state, committed to enhancing the professional development of its membership and advocating for economic development to benefit the citizens of South Carolina. For more information, visit sceda.org.
