The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of Elkhart County today announced Mark Dobson as its new President/CEO, following an intensive two month long nationwide search.

Mark, 53, has over 30 years of economic and community development experience in both the private and public sectors in Indiana.  He most recently worked as the President/CEO of the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, which has grown to over 600 members and is listed as the second largest Chamber in the Northeast Indiana region. He will take over as the EDC President/CEO on Oc. 14.

“Mark has the experience, accomplishments, skill set, work ethic and vision for the EDC of Elkhart County to strengthen our current business base and help attract new business to the area,” said Jim Dague, EDC Board Chair.

The EDC Search Committee, comprised of board officers, worked hand-in-hand with The Pace Group, a leading executive search firm specializing in economic development. A top-notch pool of candidates was developed and the search committee interviewed three finalists.

“We had a very diverse group of statewide and nationwide candidates who all possessed unique skill sets that could have benefited the EDC of Elkhart County. The caliber of the applicants we interviewed was very talented and really speaks highly of the EDC and Elkhart County,” said Ken Julian, EDC Board Vice-Chair.

Dobson spearheaded numerous successful projects during his more than 5-year stint at the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce. He was named Indiana Chamber Executive of the Year in 2014 for implementation of the chamber’s strategic plan. He was instrumental in raising the funds needed to support Elevate Indiana in the North Central Region. And he oversaw the absorption of Warsaw Community Development into the Kosciusko Chamber’s mission.

“I am very excited to be joining the EDC and to become actively involved in the communities of Elkhart County,” said Dobson. “The EDC of Elkhart County is the area’s premier economic development entity. The mission to collaborate with community leadership to grow Elkhart County is a challenge not taken lightly.”

Mark earned his Bachelors of Science in marketing and management from Butler University. He also obtained his Institute of Organization Management certification from the US Chamber and is an accredited executive. He serves Governor Pence as an appointee on the Indiana Judicial Technology Committee and is a Rotarian. Mark lives in Elkhart with his wife of 31 years, Tina, and has two grown children; a son, who is a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force, and a daughter who is an educator in central Indiana.

“I look forward to working with the business and political leadership of the county and building upon the vision and mission that has already been laid in order to move the EDC of Elkhart County forward,” said Dobson.

The EDC President/CEO will head up efforts to encourage and support the economic growth of Elkhart County by developing and implementing the EDC’s aggressive economic development marketing program focused on business retention and recruitment, workforce marketing support, and image enhancement and economic development marketing.

The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of Elkhart County’s mission is to create an economically vibrant community by recruiting, retaining and strengthening our economic base and being a catalyst for diversification, innovation and economic change.