The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) Board recently approved two changes in leadership. Jerry Oldroyd, senior counsel at Ballard Spahr, will now serve as board chair. Mel Lavitt, a senior advisor at Needham & Company, will serve as chair of the board’s Incentives Subcommittee.
“Mel and Jerry have brought an incredible wealth of experience in their years serving the state, and we look forward to their continued guidance in their new roles,” said Val Hale, executive director of GOED. “Their leadership in these positions is critical to the function and effectiveness of the GOED Board,”
The GOED Incentives Subcommittee assists with corporate expansion and recruitment efforts. A company is first vetted and approved by the subcommittee before receiving approval from the full board to enter an incentive agreement. The GOED executive director oversees and has final approval on all board actions.
The GOED Board is charged with promoting and encouraging the economic welfare of the state and advises GOED staff on business development efforts. The board consists of 15 members appointed to four-year terms by the governor with the advice and consent of the Utah Senate. No more than eight members are from one political party, and the membership represents all areas of the state.
GOED Board meetings, which are open to the public, are generally held on the first Thursday of every month. Visit business.utah.gov to learn more.