Henderson Names Taylor Hanley Economic Development VP
Local employers seeking expansion or workforce help will work with a leader who has direct manufacturing experience.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in People
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Henderson Economic Development has selected Taylor Hanley as its new vice president, following a first round of interviews. Hanley, a Henderson native who previously worked as a customer material analyst at DANA Manufacturing, will oversee business retention and expansion, workforce development, and economic development initiatives for the city's existing industries.
Why it matters
The role places Hanley in charge of the programs that help Henderson's existing employers expand and find workers, which shapes how local firms plan hiring and growth. Filling the post with someone who has worked inside a local manufacturer gives the organization a direct view of industrial operations.
The appointment covers three program areas: business retention and expansion, workforce development, and economic development. No dollar figures, headcounts, or prior-year comparisons were included in the announcement.
The players
Henderson Economic Development
The local economic development organization responsible for business retention, expansion, and workforce initiatives in Henderson.
Taylor Hanley
A Henderson native and former customer material analyst at DANA Manufacturing, newly selected as vice president of Henderson Economic Development.
Missy Vanderpool
Executive Director of Henderson Economic Development, part of the organization's leadership team.
Kate Grealish
Board Chair of Henderson Economic Development, part of the organization's leadership team.
The details
Hanley will work directly with Henderson's existing industries, focusing on expansion efforts and the workforce development needs that accompany them. Her background as a customer material analyst at DANA Manufacturing gives her firsthand experience with the supply and production side of a local industrial employer. The vice president role connects business retention work with workforce planning, so companies seeking to grow locally will deal with the same office that coordinates training and talent pipelines.
Timeline
Taylor Hanley's selection as vice president of Henderson Economic Development was announced on November 2, 2026.
Market Landscape
Local economic development offices in mid-sized American cities typically pair business retention work with workforce programs, so a leader who has worked on the shop floor or in analysis at a local manufacturer brings relevant operating knowledge to that mix. Hanley's appointment places a Henderson native with plant-level experience inside the office that works with the city's established industrial employers.
Henderson employers that rely on the economic development office for expansion or hiring support should expect a new point of contact for retention and workforce programs. Operators planning local growth or recruitment should monitor how the office structures its programs under the new vice president.
The takeaway
Local businesses can use the appointment as a signal to reach out to Henderson Economic Development about retention, expansion, and workforce support. Operators should monitor announcements from the organization for the specific programs Hanley develops.
Further reading
For more on the leaders shaping local business in Henderson, see People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Evansville Courier & Press.
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