Business groups form new not-for-profit

The Manatee Chamber of Commerce and its Economic Development Council division have reorganized to form a new not-for-profit.

The Manatee Economic Development Corp. has assumed the roles and responsibilities previously undertaken by the chamber division.

"I am pleased to announce the completion of this structural change, which will enhance the role of the MEDC as the countywide driver of business retention and recruitment, while opening up new avenues of private and public investment," MEDC Chair Jerry Marlar said.

The structural change began in 2009 as part of the chamber's strategic plan.

The MEDC will continue to be housed in the chamber's Lakewood Ranch and downtown Bradenton locations under a shared services agreement between the organizations.

Officers for the MEDC in 2012 are: Chairman Jerry Marlar of Mauldin & Jenkins; Chair-elect John Rice of Rice's Appliance & TV; Brian Kennelly of Lakewood Ranch Commercial Realty, organizational development; James Holmes of the Herald-Tribune Media Group, business recruitment; Jack Cox of Halfacre Construction, business retention/expansion; Dayton Amey of Tropicana Products, workforce; Steve Tyndal of Port Manatee, international trade; Mark Barnebey of Kirk-Pinkerton, entrepreneurial development; Chris Ciaccio of IMG Academies, marketing; and Beth Green of Morgan Stanley, immediate past chair.

For more information, visit www.manateeedc.com.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].