Sarasota County EDC names new leader

Just weeks after securing county funding, the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County officially named Erin Silk president and CEO. 

An extensive search for CEO began last year, during which the EDC board selected Silk to succeed Lisa Krouse, who has led the organization since August 2021. According to a press release, Silk has gone through an executive and leadership plan since then. 

With new leadership in place, Krouse has officially retired. 

Silk has been with the EDC since 2019, serving as the director of business development services, vice president of business development services and most recently as COO. 

"We express gratitude to Lisa Krouse as she transitions to a well-deserved retirement,” EDC Board Chair Mark Irwin says in the release. “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 and CEO."

With nearly a decade of economic development experience in the county, Silk is also a certified economic developer, a title she earned from the International Economic Development Council. 

“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,” Silk says. “With a thoughtful eye on our history, I am excited to bring an innovative approach to our future.”