MOBERLY AREA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION has announced a change in the leadership of the regional group’s Board of Directors. The change continues the innovation by the group charged with developing business opportunities in Randolph, Howard and Monroe Counties in central and northeast Missouri.
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Dr. Jeff Lashley, President of Moberly Area Community College and Rob Cater, President of the Bank of Cairo and Moberly are both completing their second terms as members of the Board of Directors of Moberly Area Economic Development at the end of the year. The six-year tour of duty by the two community leaders was during a time of change for the once locally minded organization.
Over the past six-years Moberly Area Economic Development has morphed from serving only the City of Moberly and Randolph County to a multi-county regional group serving central Missouri. “Through the vision of Dr. Lashley and Mr. Cater, MAEDC has grown to a national and international prominence in business development,” said Corey Mehaffy, President.
The two business leaders were a part of a group that led the transformation that includes valuable partners Howard and Monroe Counties. At one time both Chariton and Cooper Counties were a part of the multi-county effort under the tenure of Dr. Lashley and Mr. Cater.
“Dr. Lashley and Rob Cater have been an important part of key business recruitment wins for the entire region,” said Russ Freed, current Chairman of the MAEDC Board of Directors. During the past few years the business development team at MAEDC has seen companies such as Lowe’s, Silverack, Air Evac, GAF, Stark Brothers and JC Solutions all announce and locate new business operations in the region. On an international basis, Vest-Fiber of Tarm, Denmark also opened their first operations anywhere outside of their home company in Moberly due in part to the efforts of MAEDC.
Local businesses have also seen expansion during the Dr. Lashley and Mr. Cater era. Continental Castings and Indeeco/Accutherm together have added hundreds of new jobs in the recent past. MFA Oil, Lakeside Castings Solutions, and Mid Am Building Supply have also expanded creating new employment opportunities in the same time span.
Joe Snodgrass of Outline Associates and Jim Bratcher, President of Bratcher’s Markets are joining the Board as new members. “Together, Jim and Joe bring a wealth of business experience that will benefit our entrepreneurial development program,” said Mehaffy. “Both are leading successful companies that are benefiting the entire region.”
There is one other historic change with inside of Moberly Area Economic Development that will take place at the first of the year. For the first time in the organizations decade’s long history a businessman from outside of Moberly has been selected to be the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Chuck Brazeale, retired banker and farmer from Paris, Missouri has been named to be the new leader of the Board of Directors. “Chuck has been an indispensable portion of our leadership team since Monroe County has joined the partnership,” said current Board Chairman Russ Freed. “Chuck’s banking experience and commitment to community development is a true asset in this very important, day-to-day leadership role.”
Brazeale is no stranger to the MAEDC Board of Director. He has been the Monroe County Representative to the Board of Directors for the past three years. “Having Chuck as a part of our team has been of great value to the mission of Moberly Area Economic Development,” said Mehaffy. “He understands the benefits of communities and counties working together to improve the economic opportunity for the entire region.”
Brazeale will take the Chairman’s seat on January 1st, 2015.
The three-county partnership that is Moberly Area Economic Development works globally to attract new business to the region. Additionally MAEDC is very involved with working with local companies and their expansion plans and the starting of new businesses. For more information regarding the services of the non-profit agency go to www.moberly-edc.com