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WithersRavenel is pleased to announce the hiring of Ashley Cagle as Executive Director of Economic and Land Development.
In this role, Ashley will help strengthen the firm’s position in high-growth markets by aligning economic strategy, site readiness, regulatory coordination, and long-term community planning. As communities across North Carolina and the Southeast compete for transformative investments in life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and technology, strategic economic and land development leadership is more critical than ever.
Ashley brings more than 15 years of experience in economic development and state government affairs, with a track record of supporting multi-billion-dollar corporate investments and complex, regulated facilities that drive innovation and long-term regional value. Her expertise spans corporate site strategy and incentives, state and local government affairs, legislative and regulatory strategy, workforce development, and stakeholder coalition building.
Prior to joining WithersRavenel, Ashley served as Director of State Government Affairs for FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation, where she led state and local government strategy across multiple U.S. subsidiaries in life sciences, biotechnology, semiconductor, manufacturing, and imaging sectors. She partnered with economic development agencies to secure incentive packages, infrastructure investments, and workforce training grants that enabled corporate growth.
Before that, Ashley spent more than a decade with Wake County Economic Development, where she directed 77 successful projects representing more than $10 billion in investment and 26,000 new jobs. Her work helped position the Raleigh region as a national hub for life sciences and technology growth.
“The people attracted me to this role at WithersRavenel,” Ashley said. “I was excited about the team I was meeting and what they represented. I saw the opportunity to bring my strengths and align with the company’s strategy.”
Ashley sees strong alignment between her background and WithersRavenel’s trajectory. “Being on the forefront of the RTP area as it was growing, you learn what drives companies and what matters to clients,” she said. “It takes strategy and forethought. It’s not for the faint of heart, and that translates so well to where WithersRavenel wants to go.”
As Executive Director of Economic and Land Development, Ashley will focus on building upon the firm’s longstanding foundation while helping expand its presence in key growth markets. Her approach centers on smart, calculated growth and delivering consistent, high-quality results that build long-term relationships and repeat business.
When asked to describe her mission in one sentence, Ashley shared: “Leaving a place better than I found it.”
Ashley holds a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communication from UNC Charlotte and a certificate in Nonprofit/Public/Organizational Management from Duke University. She is a proud mother of three and remains deeply committed to strengthening the communities she serves.
