Chuck Leonard, executive director of the Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corporation was named Developer of the Year 2014 by the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association.
PEDA Awards Committee Chair Linda Nitch noted that Leonard’s “hard work is evidenced by the excellent projects and programs,” he has overseen in his leadership role at PMEDC.
PMEDC Chairman Michael Baxter echoed those sentiments.
“Though we are a persistent board, Chuck never fails to meet and exceed our expectations,” says Baxter. He has always been relentless in assuring that PMEDC is doing all it can to grow Monroe County’s economy and this award is well deserved.”
The award recognizes Leonard’s recent and cumulative achievements, as well as his contributions to the economic development industry during his 33 year career.
Since coming to Monroe County 19 years ago, Leonard has been involved with more than 100 projects that created and/or retained more than 44,000 Monroe County jobs. During the past year, he was was instrumental in two large regional tourism projects when he helped secure financing assistance for both Camelback Mountain Resort and for a $230 million project by Kalahari Resorts and Conventions.
Leonard received the award during PEDA’s annual fall conference in October. He joined PMEDC in 1995. In addition to his local leadership, Leonard has also served as Chaiman of PEDA and as Chairman of Penn’s Northeast.
PEDA is the statewide association of local, state, corporate and non-profit economic development professionals. PEDA’s mission is to promote sound economic development policies, to provide leading edge economic development education, and to nurture an effective statewide economic development network to foster the economic health of the Commonwealth. Additional information is available at www.peda.org.