Derieth L. Sutton, CEcD, EDFP
Director of Economic Development & Government Relations
Niagara Bottling, LLC
Groveland, FL
Derieth L. Sutton is the Director of Economic Development & Government Relations for Niagara Bottling, LLC, the largest family-owned and operated beverage supplier in the United States. Sutton brings over 25 years of public and private sector experience to that position.
Prior to joining Niagara, Sutton served as the Lake County Regional Director for the Metro Orlando EDC where she worked recruitment, expansion and retention projects within the Orlando region. Her experience in economic development can be traced back to positions held with the Kansas Lottery, the Kansas Department of Commerce & Housing, and the City of Kansas City, KS. She has also worked as the Economic Development Specialist for the City of Palm Bay, the Business Development Coordinator for the City of Fort Pierce and Director of Economic Development for Worcester County (MD) Government.
In her current position, Sutton is responsible overseeing, coaching and guiding a team of Economic Development Professionals through the process for both new and existing domestic and international plant expansions; establishing and maintaining cooperative relationships with governmental partners; legislative lobbying and bill tracking on all levels of government; building strategic alliances; and the implementation of incentive opportunities that ultimately position the company for growth while reducing operational costs. She also coordinates community initiatives for nearly 30 plants across the country which help introduce the company to the respective communities and allows the company to give back to those with the greatest need.
Sutton has earned a bachelor of art degree in electronic journalism from the University of Oklahoma. She earned a Master of Science in Public Administration in 2003 and completed a second Master of Science Degree in Environmental Policy and Management with Honors from American Public University in 2016. She is a certified economic development professional through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC); and is an Economic Development Finance Professional as certified through the National Development Council (NDC). Her commitment to the process of economic development is evident through her active membership in IEDC where she serves as Vice Chair of IEDC’s Public Policy Advisory Committee (PPAC) and is a mentor to professionals seeking to become certified. Sutton has also served as a volunteer through IEDC’s Economic Recovery Volunteer Program which provided counseling and technical assistance to businesses adversely impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. She is an avid supporter of IEDC’s Certification Process and serves as a co-instructor for the organization’s Certification Review Course that is taught at the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute (OU EDI). In 2015, Sutton was honored by OU EDI with the creation of the Derieth L. Sutton Legacy Scholarship. The scholarship helps young professionals further their education in the profession.
Sutton is also a voice for the bottled water industry. She serves as Co-Chair of the International Bottled Water Association’s (IBWA) Government Relations Committee, which promotes the industry’s legislative and regulatory platform at the Federal level; Co-chair of the organization’s State Affairs Task Force, which monitors legislation in all 50 states and abroad; and is a member of the plant sitting sub-committee.
Outside of work, Sutton is a faithful member of her church and Psi Zeta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She enjoys walking, cartoons, science fiction movies, spending time with family and her beautiful cocker spaniels. When not engaged in these activities, you can find Sutton out volunteering as she believes helping to edify others is the best thing a person can do in life.