From Local Advocate to Statewide Game Changer

Dr. Nicole Wadsworth has traveled to every county in Alabama—more than 25 times each. Not as a politician on a campaign trail. Not as a tourist. But as a business leader, I am trying to understand what real economic development looks like across 67 very different counties.

“When members of a community are given the opportunity to collaborate,” Dr. Wadsworth says, “cities and towns are built.”

Nicole Wadsworth isn’t just watching Alabama grow. She’s helping make it happen.

From Local Roots to Statewide Reach

Wadsworth knows the value of hard work and that the true strength of Alabama comes from the ground up. She studied diligently, earning four degrees, including two master’s degrees (MBA and MS) and a doctorate (PhD).

In 2013, she became a Certified Alabama Planning and Zoning Official, and in 2017, she earned the EDAA Leadership Certificate—one of the first people in the state to do so.

“I set my goals by starting with the needs of the people,” she says.

That simple sentence defines her career.

Today, Dr. Nicole Wadsworth works as a site selector and economic development consultant. She helps businesses—large and small—choose locations in Alabama. Her work includes everything from negotiating real estate deals to helping communities build their infrastructure.

But her real specialty is connecting dots that others often miss: people, policy, and property.

Understanding Economic Development from the Ground Up

Wadsworth doesn’t just look at spreadsheets. She listens.

“To be successful in economic development,” Nicole Wadsworth explains, “you need vision, resilience, and the ability to build communities. You have to know how to sit at a kitchen table and listen.”

That’s a far cry from a top-down development model. Wadsworth prefers real conversations in real places—downtown shops, rural farms, empty factories—anywhere growth can happen.

She is known for helping businesses and local areas rethink their strategies for long-term success. Her work often leads to new jobs, revitalized town centers, and renewed hope for struggling areas.

Not Afraid to Challenge the Status Quo

Wadsworth is clear-eyed about the challenges.

“Any time you challenge the status quo or work to shift power back to the people, you are going to face resistance,” she says.

Throughout her career, some insiders tried to block her.

“Not because the ideas were flawed,” she explains, “but because real change threatens the old way of doing things.”

That hasn’t stopped her. If anything, it’s made her more focused.

She uses data to back up her proposals, shows up to meetings prepared, and tracks results carefully—whether it’s jobs created, roads improved, or investments secured.

A Career Defined by Purpose

One major theme in Wadsworth’s work is job retention and quality of life—how people live and work. She believes Alabama’s future depends on giving people real reasons to stay.

“I have sat with business owners, employees, parents, veterans, and educators who all have the same goal: a fair shot to succeed,” Nicole Wadsworth says. “That’s what keeps me going.”

She’s also a strong believer in service. Her husband, Tim Wadsworth, is a state representative. The couple often visits project sites and volunteers together with their children.

“We are called to use our God-given talents to serve others,” Nicole Wadsworth says. “That’s what our family believes in.”

Building Trust in Small Places and Big Projects

Nicole Wadsworth’s work spans many industries—agriculture, aerospace, manufacturing, real estate, healthcare, professional services, and more. She’s helped bring office, medical, and industrial developments to life.

But she’s also helped small towns apply for grants—to support fire departments, repair roads, or reopen community centers.

She worked with other community volunteers on the I Shop Local campaign, an initiative with the Small Business Administration, showing how shopping local supports long-term economic health.

In 2015 and 2017, she was a finalist for the Russell Brown Executive Leadership Award, which honors community-minded business leaders.

She also serves on the board of the F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum and has held roles with the Heart of the Valley YMCA and various other business and civic organizations.

“Helping combat food insecurity is important to me. I donate to food banks across our state and help them find grant funds,” she says.
“Being a productive member of society is a part of who I am, and I understand that folks need stable meals in order to be productive in life. With a state as rich in resources as Alabama, no Alabamian should ever have to go hungry.”

What Keeps Her Ahead of the Curve

Wadsworth never stops learning. She reads constantly, seeks out mentors, and attends professional development conferences.

She also closely monitors industry trends, which is why she belongs to dozens of professional and civic groups—including the Business Council of Alabama, Manufacture Alabama, Alabama Forestry Association, and the Heritage Foundation.

“Growth doesn’t happen in echo chambers,” she says. “You have to engage.”

Why Nicole Wadsworth Matters Now

In a time when many rural and urban areas alike are facing uncertainty, Nicole Wadsworth brings a steady hand. Her work is grounded in data, built on relationships, and driven by a deep sense of purpose.

Nicole Wadsworth is doing more than building buildings. She’s helping communities build themselves.

“Success means creating meaningful opportunities that allow Alabamians to thrive in their own communities,” Dr. Nicole Wadsworth says.
“That’s the future we can believe in.”

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