Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County
Announces New CEO & President
SARASOTA COUNTY, FL –The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of Sarasota County is pleased to announce that Erin Silk, CEcD has been named the EDC’s new President & Chief Executive Officer. Silk assumed the role on June 15th. Lisa Krouse, who led the agency since August 2021, has retired.
The EDC Board of Directors conducted an extensive CEO search in the Fall of 2022 at which time Silk was selected to succeed Krouse. Since then, Silk has been engaged in a vigorous executive and leadership transition plan. EDC Board Chair Mark Irwin said, “We express gratitude to Lisa Krouse as she transitions to a well-deserved retirement. Lisa has been an incredible leader for the EDC and a mentor to Erin. I am extremely confident that Erin will excel as our new President & CEO.”
Silk has been with the EDC since April 2019 and has held several roles with the organization. She served as the Director of Business Development Services and then as Vice President of Business Development Services from July 2021 through November 2022. In that role, she led a team focused on attracting targeted industries and growing existing industries in Sarasota County. Most recently Silk served as Chief Operations Officer.
Silk has almost a decade of economic development experience in Sarasota County and is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD). Conferred by the International Economic Development Council, CEcD status is recognized globally and is considered the most prestigious designation in the economic development profession.
Silk is a natural leader who believes in the power of public/private partnership. At the EDC, she works closely with business leaders, government officials, educational institutions, and philanthropic organizations to grow a diversified economy that drives job growth. Silk said “The EDC has a long legacy of business leadership. I am honored to serve as its new President & CEO. Our region is undergoing transformation, and we are at a pivotal point when it is more important than ever to focus on workforce retention, foster an entrepreneurial ecosystem, and support diverse job creation while sustaining the environment that makes our County such a special place to live, work and play. With a thoughtful eye on our history, I am excited to bring an innovative approach to our future.”
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About the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County
The EDC of Sarasota County is a public/private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to grow, diversify and sustain the economy of Sarasota County while enhancing our unique natural and cultural environment. In existence since 2004, the organization works to help companies expand and establish here to create new, well-paying jobs; contribute to the local tax base; and reduce vulnerability to external shocks that can undermine our community’s long-term economic health. For more information, visit www.edcsarasotacounty.com.