Fairbank Stepping Down From BEDC
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| Tyler Fairbank |
Fairbank has been at the helm of the Berkshire Economic Development Corp. since its establishment in 2005.
"The decision [to resign] was made because, over the last couple of months, there has been a market opportunity that I want to take advantage of," said Fairbank on Wednesday night.
Fairbank will become partner and chief executive of a private, startup renewable energy company. The Dalton resident was keeping mum on the details but promised to be more forthcoming soon.
His resignation isn't taking the development agency's board by surprise; it's members have been aware of his desire to leave for some time and his replacement, David Rooney of Albany, N.Y., was just hired. The announcement was made late Wednesday evening.
Rooney's spent more than 20 years working on public and private economic development, marketing, public relations and strategic planning. He's spent the past five years with the New York Capital Region's Center For Economic Growth and recently with Empire State Development.
"Rooney comes to this position as an extremely well-qualified, highly experienced and talented economic developer of the finest caliber," Michael Daly, BEDC board chairman and president and CEO of Berkshire Bank, stated in the announcement.
<L2>Rooney starts in his new job on March 15; Fairbank, who helped in the process of selecting his replacement, will also help in transition process over the next six to eight weeks.
Fairbank said ensuring a smooth transition in leadership was very important to the continued success of the BEDC and its Berkshire Blueprint, a strategic plan for revitalizing the local economy by capitalizing on its strengths.
"I don't want its aggressive momentum to slow down over the transition," he said. He added that Rooney is "going to be fantastic. He's going to be a strong president. The community is very lucky to have him."
Fairbank described the BEDC as "a labor of love" and said he was proud of what the agency, its board, its staff and its many partners have done encouraging job growth and investment. "I'm very thankful for the experiences I've had over the last few years."
The BEDC has supported 25 business expansions and aided in the creation of nearly 800 jobs and, as part of the Blueprint, begun implementing 16 new projects.
The BEDC has also partnered with educational and cultural institutions to expand career pathways and nurture the growing creative economy.
"While we are delighted by the exciting potential for future progress, with David at the helm, we are also profoundly appreciative to Tyler Fairbank, outgoing president of the BEDC. The results achieved over the course of his tremendously successful tenure brought us to this point," said Daly in the statement.
"We have accomplished a great, great deal over the past three years," said David Bruce, chairman of the Berkshire Blueprint Steering Committee. "David Rooney will have the distinction of executing everything that has been identified and set forth in our road map for the future."
According to The Business Review of Albany, Rooney had become a regional director of Empire State Development on Jan. 2. He had been senior vice president of programs for the Center For Economic Growth.
He earned his bachelor of arts degree from the State University of New York at Albany, with dual majors in political science and English. He is married with three daughters and currently resides in Troy, N.Y.
It might be said that Fairbank is now taking advantage of a fertile business climate that he has helped to create.
"I passionately believe in the Berkshires. This is home. I am convinced that we have limitless potential for continuing and enhancing the area's economic comeback. We're well on our way," he said in a statement.
