Salina KS (12/1/16) – The Board of Directors of the Salina Community Economic Development Organization (“SCEDO”) has named D. Mitch Robinson as the organization’s first Executive Director.
In this role, Robinson will serve as the top officer of the organization, responsible for all administrative and management functions while executing the mission of the SCEDO.
Robinson comes to Salina from his most recent position in Hopkinsville, KY where he served as Executive Director of the South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council, a public-private tri-county economic development partnership.
The SCEDO Board of Directors retained Waverly Partners, a national executive search firm, to assist in the recruiting effort. Waverly Partners contacted economic development, site selection consultants and other public and private sector leaders over the course of a number of weeks and presented the Board with a slate of candidates for consideration. The Board then conducted formal interviews with four finalist candidates prior to selecting Robinson for the role.
Robinson brings over 20 years of economic development experience at the community and regional level. Prior to his role in Kentucky, Robinson led the startup of Cape Girardeau Area MAGNET, a public-private economic development partnership in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, a role he held for 18 years. He has an undergraduate degree in Government and Economics from Western Kentucky University and a Masters in Public Administration from Indiana State University. He also holds the professional certification of Certified Economic Developer through the International Economic Development Council.
“I am very excited and honored to join an outstanding team of public and private sector leadership in Salina to advance Saline County’s economic development efforts. Salina is well positioned to take advantage of many existing assets and I’m looking forward to getting started,” Robinson said.
Pete Brungardt, SCEDO Board Chair is thrilled Robinson has accepted the role. “We are very excited that Mitch will be leading the SCEDO and our economic development activities. Mitch has experience with economic development start-up organizations and brings an outstanding record of success in attracting new jobs and capital investment. We look forward to his leadership in the years to come.”
The Salina Community Economic Development Organization is a newly formed 501(c)(6) entity which will actively recruit new business and industry to Saline County. SCEDO is a private-private partnership supported by the City of Salina, Saline County, Salina Airport Authority and Salina Area Chamber of Commerce, and is led by a 9-member Board made up of individuals representing the four partner organizations.