Ed Driggers is a principal with Parker Poe Consulting who has more than 30 years of experience leading and advising local governments, including 25 years as a city administrator. Today, he helps cities and towns, counties, special purpose districts, and other local governments and nonprofits with interim management, executive recruitment, and project management.

Ed has particularly deep experience with strategic planning, including helping municipalities envision a community master plan and build it. He understands the financing methods available for large-scale projects and how to manage their day-to-day construction. He has expertise on downtown streetscapes and hotels, local government complexes, community parks, parking garages, educational facilities, and other municipal developments.

Prior to joining Parker Poe Consulting, Ed served as city administrator for two cities in South Carolina: Greer and Chester. In each, he led the city through the planning and implementation of a community master plan. In Greer, that effort happened through a public-private partnership that he spearheaded. He also helped the city go from a challenging financial situation from before he was the administrator to a sustainable and significant growth trajectory, with no tax increases.     

In 2020, the City of Greer dedicated its arts center in his honor, naming it the Edward R. Driggers Center for the Arts. The Greer Chamber of Commerce has given him its Senator J. Verne Smith Award for Community Service, and Greenville Business Magazine has frequently listed him among the most influential people in Greenville County.

Ed has extensive experience serving in leadership roles with community and business organizations. He is a former executive board member for the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), where he served as regional vice president. He is a past president of the South Carolina City and County Management Association (SCCCMA). He is also a past board member of the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC) and the South Carolina Municipal Insurance Risk Fund (SCMIRF).

Ed currently serves on the board of trustees for Winthrop University. He has served on the boards of directors for the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce and the Greer Education Foundation. He has also served on community advisory panels for BMW Manufacturing Corp. and Mitsubishi Polyester Film Corp. 

Ed received his MBA from Winthrop University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina. He is also a graduate of the State Budget and Control Board South Carolina Executive Institute, the MASC Elected Officials Institute, and the Municipal Clerks and Treasurers Institute. He is a credentialed manager by the ICMA as well.