President & Chief Executive Officer
Effective: July 17, 2023
Type: Full-time, Exempt
Reports to: Chairman of the Board, Executive Committee & Board of Directors
The Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP) is passionate about building a stronger Evansville Region. E-REP seeks a well-respected, inspirational leader with a passion for advancing the organization’s mission and priorities.
The President and CEO (CEO) serves as the chief spokesperson to represent the Evansville Region area as the premier business organization with investors, businesses, government entities and other key stakeholders. The President and CEO works with peer organizations to improve the region and drive business attraction, retention, and expansion, and advocates for policies that advance a favorable climate where business can grow and thrive. Equally important, the position leads all facets of oversight of the $6M budget and nearly 30-staff organization which is widely recognized for its strong team culture. E-REP’s affiliated organizations include the E-REP Foundation, Impact EVV, Downtown Evansville Development Corporation and Evansville Regional Sports Commission.
A successful CEO is a dynamic and innovative leader who builds upon the existing regional development plan called TalentEVV, while bringing a strategic approach to envision the future of the business and economy for the Evansville region.
The CEO’s everyday actions will exemplify the guiding principles of E-REP. The position operates regionally, commits to equitable prosperity, keeps small business front and center, leverages the unique value of both the public and private sectors in delivering success, and advances regional prosperity and global relevance.
Scope of Work
The role and responsibilities of the position will include but not be limited to the following:
Strategic Direction. Further develops strategy to execute and support the Talent EVV plan. Focuses the organization on the key priorities that are critical to advancing a diverse and inclusive business climate in the Evansville region.
Board Relations. Builds and maintains strong collaborative relationships with E-REP’s highly engaged and influential Board of Directors. Inspires the CEO community for greater engagement in E-REP and regional civic life, bringing their insight and resources to bear on enhancing the health of the Evansville Region. Serves as a servant leader, partnering with the Board to establish short- and long-range focus on strategies to accelerate the Evansville Region’s economic prosperity and vibrancy
Advocacy. Serves as an advocate and regional convener to advance E-REP’s strategic public policy agenda before government, business, media, and other key external stakeholders. Also provides advocacy muscle for many of the region’s most critical organizations and efforts. Collaborates effectively with elected officials and other regional leaders to influence outcomes with the goal of advancing priority economic development initiatives for the region.
Organizational Leadership. Fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and results through bold and visionary leadership. Provides oversight and leadership of approximately 30 highly respected, dedicated, and skilled professionals. Sets a clear vision for goals and expectations while encouraging an internal culture of partnership, creativity, innovation, member service, and entrepreneurial thinking.
External Relations & Strategic Partnerships. Serves as the dynamic spokesperson, servant leader, and primary advocate with elected officials, the media, business leaders, academia, and other key civic stakeholders. Develops strong relationships with industry leaders, and partnerships with other local civic community organizations, implementing equitable and sustainable approaches to growing the local economy and raising the quality of life for all citizens in the region. Identifies strategic partnership opportunities, both within Indiana and externally, that will improve the region’s ability to attract investment and business attraction and growth.
Resources and Operations. Primarily responsible for the E-REP revenue model and acts as the chief steward of E-REP resources: financial, talent, and relationships. Provides fiscally responsible administration of the organization’s resources and ensures long-term, sustainable financial health. Partners with the Board to ensure a highly functioning organization by defining a clear direction, operating targets through effective planning, a positive and professional culture of excellence, talented and motivated staff, a digital strategy, and effective process systems. Develops annual business plans that ensure fiscal integrity and prudence, including oversight of internal audits of financial and operating systems.
Key Qualifications and Personal Attributes:
Qualifications:
E-REP seeks a well-respected, inspirational leader with a passion for advancing the organization’s mission and priorities. The CEO will be a dynamic and innovative leader who builds on E-REP’s strong legacy, while bringing a strategic approach to envision the future of business and the economy for the Evansville region. The CEO will have demonstrated experience implementing a visionary strategic plan in conjunction with a diverse influential, executive-level Board of Directors. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 10 years of executive-level leadership experience with a regional, national, or global organization of similar scale and complexity, with demonstrated working knowledge of business, public policy, and economic development.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree from four-year college or university required.
Experience and Skills:
- Genuine passion for positioning the Evansville region as a top location nationally to conduct business and positively influencing the future economic vibrancy of the region.
- Demonstrated experience working effectively with a diverse Board of Directors to advance an organization’s priorities and achieve impactful outcomes.
- Successful experiences in executing diverse revenue models that align fund-raising for impact with results.
- Demonstrated record of successfully leading, advocating, and advancing complex, multidisciplinary business, and public policy issues. Ability to operate in a bipartisan environment.
- Exceptional gravitas, confidence, and stellar communications skills to serve as the principal external spokesperson for E-REP. The President and CEO will be a passionate public advocate for the mission and vision of E-REP, with an ability to build collaborative partnerships and open doors with other organizations, both inside and outside Indiana.
- A track record for leading through complex challenges with multiple diverse stakeholders. Effective at leading change while engaging diverse viewpoints.
- Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills. Ability to build trust and relate well with a variety of internal and external stakeholders. Demonstrated political savvy, with ability to drive influence and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
A servant leadership style that fosters a collaborative, results-oriented work environment that empowers staff members to accomplish organizational objectives. Ability to attract, engage, develop, and retain top caliber talent.
- Operates with the highest level of integrity, intellectual agility, creativity, and vision. Nimble leadership with an openness to new ideas. High energy and a positive attitude toward achieving significant challenges.
- Proven record of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of business and civic life.
About the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership:
The Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP) was formed on April 1, 2021 as a result of a strategic alignment of three existing business organizations serving the Southwestern Indiana area – Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce (Chamber), Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana (EDC) and the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville (GAGE) as well as two separate Foundations—Southwest Indiana Chamber Foundation, Inc. and Quad County Development Commission, Inc. This unique and innovative partnership, which includes a 1,400-member Chamber of Commerce and Southwest Indiana’s two leading economic development organizations, represents a comprehensive approach to support the business community. Since the initial merger, the Downtown Development Corporation, Posey County Economic Development Partnership and Evansville Regional Sports Commission have all combined to create a stronger unified economic development and chamber organization. The primary mission of E-REP is to encourage business attraction and expansion, job creation, and business investment to foster and promote a thriving economy throughout Southwest Indiana. By aligning the three organizations and the two foundations, E-REP provides a more comprehensive set of support and services and is the single point of contact for companies looking to locate or expand in Southwest Indiana. In addition, through effective and ongoing advocacy efforts, E-REP represents a powerful voice in promoting policies that foster a more business friendly environment throughout the region.