Bradenton Area EDC adds, promotes staff

The Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp. has added a new staff member and promoted two veterans, moves its leader says will “future-proof” the organization in 2025.

Yanet Lopez was brought on to be the director of business retention, according to a statement, while Elizabeth Cordes was named director of business recruitment and expansion, and Ellen Kelley was elevated to manager of investor engagement.

“Heading into 2025 we are future-proofing the EDC for effectiveness, efficiency and relevance in delivering results for our community,” Sharon Hillstrom, president and CEO of the Bradenton Area EDC, says in a statement. “We are excited to share this news, which demonstrates our organization’s ability to retain and attract top talent to continue our important work in growing and diversifying the economy in Manatee County.”

Lopez joined the EDC in December with more than seven years of economic development experience in South Carolina and Florida, including as economic development manager at the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute. As the director of business retention for the Bradenton Area EDC, Lopez will focus on “strategic initiatives and relationship-building to retain and help grow established businesses in targeted sectors in Manatee County,” according to a statement.

After more than 15 years in the public and private sectors in Florida and Washington, D.C., Cordes began working for the EDC in 2018 and has served in a variety of roles with progressively more responsibility. In her role as director of business recruitment and expansion, she will be working to recruit “targeted businesses to locate in Manatee County and facilitate expansions of established businesses,” according to a statement.

Kelley, a 20-year Manatee County resident with extensive background in advertising sales and marketing, became part of the EDC team in 2023 as research and administrative coordinator. As the manager of investor engagement, she will strengthen community relations, build opportunities for collaboration, oversee events and new strategic initiatives and handle social media marketing.

The Bradenton Area EDC and its partners have helped more than 90 businesses expand and relocate in Manatee County since 2015, according to a statement, which says these companies are projected to deliver more than 3,800 jobs through 2029 and make over $1 billion in capital investments.