EDC of Sarasota County names new president and CEO

Erin Silk has been named president and CEO of the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County. The EDC Board of Directors officially promoted Silk Thursday morning. She replaces Lisa Krouse, who is retiring after leading the agency since August 2021.

Following a search for a new president and CEO in fall 2022, Silk was selected to succeed Krouse. Since then, she has been engaged in an executive and leadership transition plan. 

Silk joined the EDC in April 2019 as director of business development services. She has since served as vice president of business development services, leading a team focused on attracting targeted industries and growing existing industries in Sarasota County. Most recently, she was chief operations officer.

“We express gratitude to Lisa Krouse as she transitions to a well-deserved retirement,” said EDC Chairman Mark Irwin in a press 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.”

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 as the highest designation in the economic development profession.

“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 said in the release.

Silk takes over at a critical time for the EDC. Under prior leadership, the organization has had a tenuous relationship with the Sarasota County Commission, which has threatened to eliminate its portion of public funding for the organization. For the current fiscal year, it reduced its funding by one-third.

Krouse came out of retirement in 2021 to lead the EDC on an interim basis and played a critical role in restructuring the board of directors, repurposing the EDC’s mission and rebuilding its relationship with county leadership. 

In May, the County Commission voted to restore full funding, $1.05 million of the EDC's $1.7 million budget, for the next fiscal year, with the condition of demonstrating tangible results for business recruitment and job creation.