Ann Arbor SPARK president and CEO Paul Krutko was recently elected chair of the International Economic Development Council’s (IEDC) board of directors. Krutko will retire his past role as vice chair to begin his new, one-year term in January 2013.
“It is truly an honor to have been elected chair of IEDC, the world’s leading membership organization of economic development professionals,” Krutko said. “The vision and leadership of my economic development peers continually inspire ideas that Ann Arbor SPARK can adapt to promote economic opportunity and progress in the region.”
In his role as IEDC’s board chair, Krutko will lead the organization’s efforts to help economic development professionals create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities and improve the quality of life in their regions. More than 4,000 economic development professionals belong to IEDC.
Krutko has more than 31 years of economic and business development experience. Before joining Ann Arbor SPARK, he led San Jose, Calif.’s economic development efforts, where he served as chief development officer. He has also worked in economic development for the cities of Cleveland and Jacksonville.
Currently, Krutko serves as vice chair of the IEDC. He co-chairs the organization’s Economic Development Research Partners subsidiary. He was selected as a Fellow Member of IEDC in 2009.
Krutko’s election took place at IEDC’s recently concluded annual conference, held in Houston, Texas.
