Lori Huguley is the recently retired Director of Economic Development for the City of
Opelika where she also served as Secretary to the Opelika Industrial Development
Authority. Her primary responsibilities were to recruit and retain business and industry to
promote economic growth. Lori was appointed to this position in June 2011.  Prior to this
appointment, Lori had served as the Economic Development Project Manager for the City of
Opelika since June 2005.

In April of 2010, Lori became a Certified Economic Developer. This accreditation is awarded
after completion of many hours of study in the field of Economic Development and passage
of the Certified Economic Developer exam administered by the International Economic
Development Association.

During her tenure with the City, she and her team announced the creation of 6,000 new jobs
and capital investments of over $2.7 Billion USD for industrial, warehousing, and US
Headquarter entities. She also brought many significant retail and commercial
developments to the City of Opelika. New home developments reached an all-time
high during her time as director.

In 2019, Lori was awarded an Excellence in Economic Development Award by the Site
Selectors Guild, a prestigious National organization of site selection professionals. She was
also the 2024 recipient of the Dave Echols Award for Economic Development in the State of
Alabama. Lori is a Past President of the Economic Development Association of Alabama
and currently serves on the Executive Board of the Alabama Germany Partnership.

In 2024, Lori and her business partner, Valerie Gray formed a new economic development
consulting firm, Valor Strategies. Valor Strategies is a new venture between veteran
economic developers, Lori Huguley, CEcD and Valerie Gray who each have a passion for
economic development and public service.  Both are recipients of the prestigious Dave
Echols Award in Economic Development in Alabama.

Valor Strategies provides expertise in economic development,
governmental affairs, community development, marketing, deal structuring, and project
agreement fulfillment.