Breland Companies President Joey Ceci has played a role in the economic development of Huntsville and Madison County at a time of record growth both in the government sector and in the private sector.

His family moved here when his father landed work in the defense industry with a job developing rockets for helicopters.

Ceci graduated from Huntsville High School and the University of Alabama in Huntsville before going to work for former Congressman Bud Cramer. He left that position for government relations consulting work before being hired by the Madison County Commission under then-chairman Dale Strong to do economic development transportation work.

It was that kind of work that led him to a position with Breland Companies working for company founder Louis Breland.

“Louis was trying to get Town Madison moving with interchange approval with federal highway officials and the state. I went to work for Louis Breland specifically on that project,” Ceci said.