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Recent News about East Bay EDA
Attend a "Meet & Greet" with Karen Engel July 13 in Oakland and July 15 in Walnut Creek

Follow East Bay EDA News at the San Francisco Business Times

Karen Engel named new Executive Director of
the East Bay Economic Development Alliance

Oakland, CA June 30, 2010 Karen Engel has been named the Executive Director of the East Bay Economic Development Alliance (“East Bay EDA”).  Dr. Engel was awarded her Ph.D. in economics from Tufts University and has 20 years of experience with regional economic development.   Dr. Engel will lead the regional public/private member organization, advancing its mission of job creation and economic development and working on behalf of the member counties, cities, leading businesses, labor and community groups.

“The East Bay EDA has been an invaluable resource for Bayer Berkeley." said Dr. Harald Dinter of Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals.  Dr. Dinter heads Bayer’s Global Biological Development organization and is a member of the East Bay EDA’s Executive Committee. "They played an instrumental role in helping Bayer secure incentives that strengthened our proposal to retain a major investment in the East Bay, and also strengthened the region’s standing as a magnet for biotech, green and other emerging industries.  I believe the addition of Karen as our new executive director will allow us to continue the EDA’s work to establish the region as a world-recognized location to grow businesses, attract capital and create quality jobs.”

Most recently, Dr. Engel served as the Economic Development Director for the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.  Over the last four years at the Chamber, Dr. Engel helped spearhead the Oakland Partnership, a public-private partnership focused on economic development in the City of Oakland.   In addition, she worked with McKinsey & Company for its assessment of the East Bay region’s industry cluster groups including Bio Tech and Green businesses.  Dr. Engel will continue the East Bay EDA’s work in support of the East Bay Green Corridor.

“Karen Engel is known in the East Bay as a person who has a history of getting things accomplished!  Together our organization looks forward to a bright future,” said Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Chair of the East Bay EDA

Dr. Engel has led or participated in economic development initiatives in more than a dozen U.S. regions and 11 foreign countries. Her international experience includes work for foreign governments, private firms, the World Bank and the U.S. Agency for International Development on issues ranging from international trade to micro-enterprise development.  As a Fulbright Scholar in Madagascar, Dr. Engel served as an economic advisor on small business to the Minister of Economy and Planning.  She has served as a Principal with the Economic Competitiveness Group, a Bay Area economic consulting firm and as the Business Development Manager for the City of Oakland.

“The East Bay EDA is a unique organization with a distinguished history of leading collaborative efforts to strengthen the East Bay economy. I am delighted to join the team and honored to have the opportunity to build on the strength of a tremendous legacy,” said Dr. Engel.

Examples of East Bay EDA’s Leadership in the Bay Area

Since its inception, East Bay EDA has been involved in nearly every major economic issue to face the East Bay.  East Bay EDA brings public, private and nonprofit leaders to the same table, working to support the region through a diverse array of issues ranging from the military base closures of the 1990s, the dredging of bay channels to support increased traffic at the Port of Oakland, and preventing various manufacturing plant closures.  Most recently, East Bay EDA played a key role working with Bay Area leaders to develop the Bay Area’s Economic Recovery Plan.  In addition, the East Bay EDA has been in the forefront of efforts to support workers and suppliers impacted by the closure of the New United Motors Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) plant in Fremont.

The East Bay EDA manages the East Bay Green Corridor Partnership, and has supported the development of many innovative initiatives such as the Tri-Valley’s recent I-Gate and the Northern Silicon Valley Partnership.  The East Bay EDA will continue to build and support innovation, commercialization, job growth and investment in the region’s biotech, green, traditional and emerging technology sectors.

About the East Bay EDA

The East Bay Economic Development Alliance (East Bay EDA), located in Oakland, California, is a public-private partnership founded in 1990 to serve the San Francisco East Bay (Alameda and Contra Costa Counties).  The East Bay EDA’s mission is to establish the region as a world-recognized location to grow businesses, attract capital and create quality jobs.   The East Bay EDA board is chaired by Supervisor Keith Carson of Alameda County.