FEDC Announces Servant Leadership Award Recipient

FRISCO, TEXAS (Jan. 23, 2025) – The Frisco Economic Development Corporation (FEDC) honored business leader Gary Carley with the inaugural FEDC Servant Leadership Award. The award recognizes public servants who freely give of their time, energy, expertise, and leadership without expectations of credit, favor, influence, or personal benefit. The award is being named in his honor and will be known as the Gary Carley Servant Leadership Award.

Carley worked for more than 40 years as a leader and executive in commercial banking and has served on various boards including the FEDC, Frisco Community Development Corporation, multiple chambers of commerce, and several civic and business boards.

“It is an honor to be recognized with this award for serving Frisco and its residents,” said FEDC Board Member and award recipient Gary Carley. “The decision my wife and I made to move to Frisco in 2006 changed our lives. My 17 years of service to the City of Frisco’s Community Development Corporation and Economic Development Corporation has been a pleasure. To work alongside mayors, city council members, city managers, their phenomenal staffs, and my fellow board members all these years has been tremendously rewarding.”

Carley was instrumental in projects in Frisco that led to the development of cornerstone community ventures including The Star, Toyota Stadium, the University of North Texas-Frisco Campus, the PGA and the future Universal Studios. During Carley’s tenure as a Board Member for the FEDC, Carley helped approve more than 80 agreements which led to the creation of more than 27,000 new and retained jobs and brought billions of new investments to Frisco.

“Gary is just an all-around great guy and a pillar in the community,” said Jason Ford, President of FEDC. “He’s a leader amongst leaders and has dedicated his efforts to enhancing the lives of the citizens of Frisco by bringing corporate headquarters, mixed-used development projects, educational and medical institutions, and sports businesses to Frisco. He knows that attracting these projects to Frisco helps to keep our tax rates low for our citizens, creates jobs, and builds a culture where other developers and businesses want to be here. Drive anywhere in Frisco and you’ll see Gary’s positive impact. Quite simply, Frisco would not be the city it is today without Gary Carley.”

Carley and his wife, Wanda, have been married for more than 50 years and have two children and three grandsons. Carley graduated from LSU Banking School and Rice University, where he was a football player. Carley and his wife have lived in Frisco for nearly two decades and noted that he and his family were graciously welcomed. He states that he and his wife feel fortunate to be in Frisco and to serve.

About the Frisco EDC

The Frisco EDC operates as a Texas non-profit corporation and is governed by a seven-member board of directors appointed by the Frisco, Texas City Council. Job number one is facilitating the creation of jobs, as the Frisco EDC’s mission is to improve the economic opportunities and quality of life for all Frisco residents. The Frisco EDC has facilitated major economic development projects, resulting in hundreds of projects and thousands of jobs in the City of Frisco. For more information, visit FriscoEDC.com.