Mr. Daniels was born and raised in Greeneville, Tennessee which is adjacent to Cherokee National Forest. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications & Computer Science and a Master of Science degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology from East Tennessee State University.
Mr. Daniels began his career with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development based in Nashville, Tennessee. During his time with the State of Tennessee he was involved in reform of the Appalachian Regional Commission Grant Program and the Industrial Training Service program. Mr. Daniels left the State of Tennessee in 1997 and begun work as an Economic Development Planner for the firm of Barge Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon based in Nashville, Tennessee. During this time Bryan worked with several communities within East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. His clients were municipalities trying to develop their local economies and seeking state and federal support for their goals.
From 2001 thru 2010, Mr. Daniels accepted the role of Executive Vice President under the Blount Partnership. Bryan managed Blount County, the cities of Maryville, and Alcoa’s Economic Development efforts. Mr. Daniels was directly responsible for the Economic Development offices and staff located in Maryville, Tennessee; Munich, Germany; and Yokohama, Japan. Mr. Daniels managed the operations of the community’s four industrial parks, two science/technology parks, and the Economic Development Programs for Blount County, City of Maryville, and City of Alcoa, Tennessee. The Economic Development Board is one of the four partner agencies of the Blount Partnership (Chamber, Foundation, Tourism Bureau, and Economic Development Board).
In 2010, Mr. Daniels was named President and CEO of the Blount Partnership. The Partnership is comprised of The Blount County Chamber of Commerce, Blount County Economic Development Board, the Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Authority, and the Blount Chamber Foundation. The 28-person staff is responsible for all economic development activities within the jurisdictional boarders of Blount County and the cities of Alcoa, Maryville, Townsend, Rockford, Friendsville, and Louisville.
During Mr. Daniels tenure, Blount County has recruited over 90 new and expanding companies in the areas of research & development, corporate headquarters, manufacturing, and back office support centers. The total capital investment of these companies has exceeded $4.5 billion dollars and created more than 18,000 direct new jobs with average wages above Tennessee’s average. The Blount County local governments adopted the new tourism authority structure which was written by Bryan and former Senator Doug Overbey. The authority was unanimously adopted by the 107th Tennessee general assembly as a new local/state entity and has been championed by the Department of Tourism as a best practice for local governments to adopt. Blount County has now been a destination for large recreational organizations such as (HOG Rally, Destination Vacations, etc.).
Mr. Daniels has continued his professional education by graduating from the Economic Development Institute located at the University of Oklahoma and is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) from the International Economic Development Council. Bryan is also a graduate from the US Chamber’s Institute of Non-Profit Management and attained the designation of IOM. Mr. Daniels has attained the status of Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) from the American Chamber of Commerce Executives.
Bryan currently serves as the Chairman for the International Economic Development Council based in Washington D.C. representing 28 countries and all 50 US States and is a member of the US Chamber’s Committee of 100 (guides the policies of the US Chamber of Commerce).
Bryan teaches economic development principals & planning for the U.S. Chamber nationwide and teaches chamber operations for the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce’s non-profit management school.
The Blount Partnership is a five-star accredited Chamber of Commerce by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) by the International Economic Development Council.
Bryan is very active in the community and has held the following leadership roles:
- 2001 – Graduate of Johnson City, TN by Leadership Johnson City Program
- 2005 – Graduate of Blount County, TN by Leadership Blount Program
- 2001-2010 – Marketing advisory board member, East Tennessee Economic Development Agency
- 2002-2009 – Board member, Blount County Hearing and Speech Foundation
- 2001-2004 – President, East Tennessee Industrial Council (16 county region)
- 2007-2016 – Board Member, East Tennessee State University Foundation
- 2007 – Industry division chairman, Blount County United Way
- 2010-2013 – Tech 2020 Board Member (Tennessee High Technology Incubator Program)
- 2013-2017 – President, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Executives
- 2014 – Chairman, Blount County Relay for life
- 2009-2025 – Past President, East Tennessee State University National Alumni Association
- 2010-Present – Board Member, East Tennessee Economic Development Agency
- 2012-2020 – Foundation Advisory Member, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital
- 2013-2019 – Past-Chairman, S.E. Board of Regents – US Chamber of Commerce
- 2013-Present – Chairman, International Economic Development Council
- 2016-2021 – Past President, Tennessee Economic Development Council
- 2019 – Graduate of Leadership Tennessee, Lipscomb University
- 2020-Present – Board Member for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital
- 2022-Present – Board Member of East Tennessee State University Research Corp.
Awards
- 2011 – Knoxville Metro Area 40 under 40 Inductee, Knoxville Business Journal
- 2011 – East Tennessee State University Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee
- 2015 – Tennessee’s Executive of the Year, by the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce
- 2019 – Community Leader of the Year, by Leadership Blount
- 2022 – Top 50 US Economic Developers of the year, by Consultant Connect
- 2025 – Top 50 US Economic Developers of the year, by Consultant Connect
- 2025 – East Tennessee State University Hall of Fame, Alumnus of the Year
As of December 2025