ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.– (Feb. 7, 2019) – W. Chadwick Loar assumed the position of 2019 Chairman of the St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation (EDC) at the organization’s second Annual Meeting, held February 7 in downtown St. Petersburg. Loar, Regional President of West and Central Florida for PNC Bank was a member of the EDC’s founding Executive Committee, serving as Secretary and Treasurer in 2017.
Chad Loar, St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation 2019 Chairman
“I was shocked to learn that just a few years ago, St. Pete did not have an organization proactively marketing to the business community and driving economic growth,” Loar said. “I am humbled and honored to Chair this economic development organization in 2019 to ensure our community thrives and long-term success is achieved.”
Loar brings more than 17 years’ experience in corporate and commercial banking to the EDC’s executive team. In his current role at PNC, Loar oversees 97 branches and more than 900 employees, covering an area that includes Central Florida and Tallahassee south to Naples.
Active in the community, Loar is past president of the board of directors for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. In addition to his role with the EDC, he serves as a board member for the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and the Tampa Bay Partnership. Loar is also a member of Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), alumni for Leadership Tampa Class of 2013 and Tampa Connection Class of 2008.
John McLain, CEO for Bayfront Health St. Petersburg and Jill Wilkinson, Senior Market President for SunTrust Bank, join Loar as Vice Chair and Secretary and Treasurer for the EDC. Other members of the EDC’s executive leadership include St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, St. Petersburg Chamber President & CEO, Chris Steinocher, EDC Immediate Past Chair, David Punzak, and EDC President, J.P. DuBuque.
“As Chair of the EDC’s Investor Relations Committee and a dedicated member of our executive team, Chad’s engagement has proven to be invaluable,” DuBuque said. “With his focused leadership and guidance from our strong City partners and executive team, the EDC is poised to attract even more companies to St. Pete in 2019.”
The EDC, founded as a result of the “Grow Smarter” strategic plan in 2016, aims to enhance broad-based economic prosperity through the targeted creation of jobs by leading awareness building of St. Petersburg as a business and career location, generating and closing leads for new business operations and working with existing target industry companies to maximize job growth and retain quality jobs.
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About the St. Petersburg Economic Development Corporation
The St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation is a partner in the Grow Smarter Strategy to create awareness of the business climate in St. Petersburg and to invigorate the growth of jobs in the target sectors of marine and life sciences, data analytics, financial and business services, specialized manufacturing and creative arts and design. For more information, visit StPeteEDC.com or call (727) 767-0209.