A b o u t
The Alabama Business Intelligence Center (ABIC) exists to increase business development leads, strengthen partnerships through intelligence and resources, collaborate with allies and partners to unlock insights from the combination of quantitative and qualitative information, and position Alabama as a partner for business growth and investment. The Center envisions being a thought-leader on Alabama business and industry trends. It will augment EDPA’s partners’ current work and further position Alabama’s value proposition.
The Alabama Business Intelligence Center will work with the EDPA business development team and partners to execute projects for lead generation across the state. Additionally, ABIC will serve as a resource to the Alabama Department of Commerce – the State’s economic development leader.
ABIC will also support Opportunity Alabama and its statewide partners to generate data-informed interventions to build economic resilience in underserved communities, as they recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
Executive Director
Lauren B. Hyde, CFA
Lauren Hyde serves as the first Executive Director of the Alabama Business Intelligence Center, offering expertise through an investment lens. She is well-versed in public and private company analysis with work experience spanning economic and financial market research, private market due diligence, investment modeling, client-facing advising, and fund operations.
Lauren was most recently a Senior Associate with EBSCO Capital. Her responsibilities included sourcing and evaluating new investment opportunities and supporting the transaction process.
Prior to joining EBSCO Capital, Lauren worked on the Research team as an institutional investment consultant, Highland Associates, where she conducted economic and financial market research, maintained capital market assumptions, built model portfolios, and produced research reports and position papers. Lauren also served as an investment subject matter expert to clients, offering insight into current market conditions and future expectations.
Lauren graduated with a B.S. in Finance and Economics from Samford University. She holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation. Lauren is a member of the CFA Society of Alabama and the Alabama Economics Club.
In the community, she serves on the Brock School of Business Economics, Finance, and Quantitative Analysis Advisory Board. She is also a member and past President of the Glenwood Junior Board and member of the Rotaract Club of Birmingham, serving on the Rotaract Foundation Board as Chair of the Investment Committee. Lauren enjoys golf, travel and hiking with her husband (Foster) and daughter.